Postcards from the British raj

AHMEDABAD: They are the only relics showing the end of the 19th century and beginning of 20th century in the vibrant hues of the subcontinent to Europe and other parts of the world from the era of monochrome photographs. Picture postcards, started as marketing propaganda, soon turned into tangible cultural representation with artists like

Raja Ravi Varma

and M V Dhurandhar capturing the India of the

British Raj

.

“It was a fascinating amalgamation of commerce and art with artists or photographers capturing images in India, sending it to European countries like Austria and Germany for printing by lithograph, collotype or halftone and sending it back as a finished product. From India, the postcards would again travel the world with the images,” said Omar Khan, the US-based collector and researcher. Khan’s book ‘Paper Jewels - Postcards from the Raj’ published by Ahmedabad-based Mapin Publishing, was released at the NID in the city on Monday by NID director

Pradyumna

Vyas. Khan also delivered a talk on his collection and its hidden gems. The book covers the period from 1892 to 1947.