Hindoo Natch Girls
c. 1899 
Coloured Print

This print titled Hindoo Natch Girls was first published in the F. M Coleman edited publication, ‘Typical Pictures of Indian Natives’, in 1897. This book consists of a collection of hand-coloured photographs depicting costumes worn by Indians of various castes and occupations. Such picture portraits initiated a genre of popular imagery which was reproduced on postcards and purchased by Europeans during their travels in India.

This hand coloured photograph depicts Hindoo nautch girls or dancing girls. Nautches or public dance performances were arranged by the elite classes of the society on special occasions and many distinguished Company officers were invited to such performances.