Umrao Jaan, ‘dancing girl of the Oudh Court of Lucknow’,
Plate #11 from: ‘The Beauties of Lucknow’, Calcutta, 1874
digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/b30c4c40
Abbas Ali, the architect of Qaiser Bagh, was the only Indian photographer in the 19thC to publish his work in book form.
Conversation
“English and Urdu introductions state that the album was created in
response to requests from Indians and Europeans for photographs of dancers and actresses. The introductions are effusive in crediting Wajid Ali Shah, the ruler of Avadh, with Indra of Vedic lore.”
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