The exhibition presents vintage photographs produced by Bourne & Shepherd, the oldest surviving photo studio in the world, still operational today under the same name, in Kolkata.

One of the most famous of the early European commercial photographers, and the most prolific photographer of the ‘picturesque’ tradition, Samuel Bourne, a former bank clerk, arrived in India in 1836. Bringing with him a large amount of photographic equipment, developing local contacts here, and having access to Indian bearers, Bourne travelled the subcontinent widely — producing over 2000 negatives including some of the finest nineteenth century travel photography. The prints also include a range of landscapes, architectural views and portraits by Charles Shepherd and the Bourne & Shepherd studio.

On display are 19th century vintage photographs sourced from the rich photographic holdings of MAP (Museum of Art & Photography, Bangalore).
One of the highlights of this exhibition is its reproduction of select prints in enlarged ratios that allows viewers a unique insight into these historically significant photographs from a contemporary moment.

Bourne & Shepherd: Figures in Time is organised in collaboration with MAP, and will be accompanied by the publication of a new catalogue that carries an original essay by Hugh Ashley Rayner on the life and works of Samuel Bourne.