Indian Table Servant

Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library

Indian Table Servant

A table servant Date: circa 1905

Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries

Media ID 14273147

© Mary Evans Picture Library

Servant Servants

EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the image of an Indian table servant, standing attentively behind a grand dining table, circa 1905. The table is laden with fine china, crystal glassware, and silverware, setting the scene for an elegant dinner party. The servant, dressed in traditional Indian attire, wears a serious expression as he waits to attend to the needs of his employers. His hands are folded behind his back, and his eyes are fixed on the ground, demonstrating the subservient posture expected of him during this era. India, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was under British colonial rule, and the country's indigenous population was often relegated to menial jobs, including that of a table servant. The British brought with them a culture of formal dining, which required a large workforce to maintain the elaborate table settings and serve the guests. The Indian table servants, like the one depicted in this photograph, were an integral part of the British colonial lifestyle. Despite the formal setting, there is a sense of unease and discomfort in the image. The servant's posture and expression suggest a sense of inferiority and subjugation, while the stark contrast between the opulence of the dining table and the simplicity of the servant's attire highlights the social and economic disparities of the time. The photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the complex and often troubled history of colonialism and its impact on the lives of the indigenous population.

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