View at Raksum, on the Buspa
Photograph
1866 (photographed)
1866 (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of many images of the Baspa Valley captured by the English photographer Samuel Bourne. From July to December 1866, he toured part of the Himalayan region. He wrote about his journey in The British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and in some cases describing the scenes he photographed.
He found the Baspa Valley and surrounding area particularly beautiful and rewarding as a subject. He wrote: '…the turnings and windings of the valley, desolate though it was, overlooked by noble mountains wearing their snowy caps, were not wanting in that sterner beauty which is associated with grandeur; and some of my best pictures were obtained in following the course of the river to the glacier at the head of the valley – a distance of about 50 miles.’
He found the Baspa Valley and surrounding area particularly beautiful and rewarding as a subject. He wrote: '…the turnings and windings of the valley, desolate though it was, overlooked by noble mountains wearing their snowy caps, were not wanting in that sterner beauty which is associated with grandeur; and some of my best pictures were obtained in following the course of the river to the glacier at the head of the valley – a distance of about 50 miles.’
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | View at Raksum, on the Buspa (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Albumen print from a wet collodion glass negative |
| Brief description | Photograph near the Baspa valley, India, by Samuel Bourne, 1866. |
| Physical description | This photograph, taken at ground level, shows a view of the river Baspa meandering into the mountains. There are three Indian men on the river bank on the right hand side of the image and they give a sense of scale to the towering landscape. Some houses can be seen on the mountain side on the right hand side. The clarity of the photograph is such that it is possible to see snow on the mountain peaks and the rocks and boulders in the midground. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Signature and negative number in bottom left hand side. |
| Object history | The photograph was initially part of the photographic collection held in the National Art Library. The markings on the mount are an indication of the history of the object, its movement through the museum and the way in which it is categorised. The mount is white with evidence of handwritten text on the top. On the right hand side: label with A.in.Raksum Bottom left: Label from Bourne catalogue with ' View at Raksum, on the Buspa' handwirtten below it. |
| Historical context | Samuel Bourne wrote and published an account of his journey in which he mentions the places that he photographed. Below is the relevant section for this photograph: '…..the turnings and windings of the valley, desolate though it was, overlooked by noble mountains wearing their snowy caps, were not wanting in that sterner beauty which is associated with grandeur; and some of my best pictures were obtained in following the course of the river to the glacier at the head of the valley – a distance of about 50 miles'. Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, March 4 1870, pg 98. |
| Production | The negative was made in 1866. This print would have been made before March 1867. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This is one of many images of the Baspa Valley captured by the English photographer Samuel Bourne. From July to December 1866, he toured part of the Himalayan region. He wrote about his journey in The British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and in some cases describing the scenes he photographed. He found the Baspa Valley and surrounding area particularly beautiful and rewarding as a subject. He wrote: '…the turnings and windings of the valley, desolate though it was, overlooked by noble mountains wearing their snowy caps, were not wanting in that sterner beauty which is associated with grandeur; and some of my best pictures were obtained in following the course of the river to the glacier at the head of the valley – a distance of about 50 miles.’ |
| Bibliographic reference | Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, March 4 1870, pg 98. |
| Other number | 1516 - Negative number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 53118 |
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| Record created | December 16, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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