British Imperialism Collection

Loading a vat with plant, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617935 Loading a vat with plant, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Indigo factory (loading the vats), 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617934 Indigo factory (loading the vats), 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Luggie (measuring lands for cultivation), 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617930 Luggie (measuring lands for cultivation), 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J

Planters bungalow, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617929 Planters bungalow, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Cutting indigo into cakes, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617945 Cutting indigo into cakes, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Drying house (indigo cakes on shelves), 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617944 Drying house (indigo cakes on shelves), 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J

Pumping the fecula into boilers, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617942 Pumping the fecula into boilers, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Press house, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617941 Press house, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Indigo boilers and fecula table, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617940 Indigo boilers and fecula table, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Apparatus for beating by machinery, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617939 Apparatus for beating by machinery, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J

Beating a vat by hand, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617937 Beating a vat by hand, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Cutting indigo plant in the field and loading carts, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617933 Cutting indigo plant in the field and loading carts, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J

Group of indigo beaters, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617948 Group of indigo beaters, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Bailing water in time of drought, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617946 Bailing water in time of drought, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Pressing the fecula, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617943 Pressing the fecula, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Beating by machinery, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617938 Beating by machinery, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Indigo factory (loading the vats), 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617936 Indigo factory (loading the vats), 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Persian wheel, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617947 Persian wheel, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Sowing with drills, 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617932 Sowing with drills, 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Tumnie (turning up lands), 1877 (albumen silver print)
3617931 Tumnie (turning up lands), 1877 (albumen silver print) by Mallitte, Oscar Jean Baptiste (c.1829-1905); J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

A Syce (groom) Holding Two Carriage Horses, c. 1845 (opaque w / c on paper)
3614150 A Syce (groom) Holding Two Carriage Horses, c.1845 (opaque w/c on paper) by Shaik Muhammad Amir of Karraya (fl.1830-50); 30.5x50.8 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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"Unveiling the Dark Legacy: British Imperialism's Indigo Empire" Step back in time to witness the intricate workings through captivating albumen silver prints from 1877. These remarkable images offer a glimpse into the indigo industry, an integral part of Britain's colonial rule. The journey begins with scenes of laborious loading, as workers meticulously fill vats with plants. The indigo factory comes alive in another print, showcasing bustling activity as vats are loaded and prepared for production. Luggie, measuring lands for cultivation, highlights the meticulous planning that went into expanding this empire. A plantation owner's opulent bungalow emerges next—a symbol of power and control amidst vast fields. Cutting indigo into cakes reveals the transformation process while a drying house showcases shelves adorned with these precious blue creations. Witnessing pumping fecula into boilers demonstrates the industrialization that fueled this imperial enterprise. A press house stands tall, where immense pressure was applied to extract every ounce of value from this lucrative crop. Indigo boilers and fecula tables illustrate both innovation and exploitation—machinery replacing human hands but perpetuating unequal power dynamics. The apparatus for beating by machinery further exemplifies how technology facilitated mass production at great human cost. Yet amidst such mechanization lies a poignant reminder—the image capturing individuals manually beating a vat by hand speaks volumes about resilience and resistance against oppressive systems. Finally, cutting indigo plants in fields and loading carts encapsulates not only physical labor but also signifies how entire communities were uprooted to serve imperial ambitions. These evocative albumen silver prints transport us to an era when British imperialism reigned supreme—a time when lives were forever altered under its weighty presence. Let us reflect upon this dark legacy etched within each frame—an enduring testament to humanity's capacity for both progress and injustice.