Photographers Norman Parkinson and Henry Clarke captured the beauty of India in their works and influenced the global perception of the country. Parkinson’s 1956 shoot for British Vogue’s Winter Sunshine collection in India combines Western photographic aesthetics with Indian landscapes and architecture. Some images from this shoot are preserved at the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP), Bangalore. Henry Clarke Henry Clark also presented India’s potential as a landmark of global appeal.
Fashion photography in the post-war era
The post-war era saw a shift in fashion photography. With the introduction of jet planes, travel became more accessible, and magazines had bigger budgets to travel to different places. Parkinson’s shoot in India coincided with Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. The representation of femininity changed with the rise to power of Queen Elizabeth. Parkinson’s close relationship with the royal family and his reputation as a technical expert allowed him to became a royal photographer.
“Norman Parkinson’s technical acuity is undeniable, and his 1956 shoot in India was one of his most recognisable. The magazine’s expanding vision in the 1950s and 60s allowed photographers like Parkinson to work on increasingly ambitious projects, often in former colonies.” – said Varun Nayar, a past research editor at MAP.
Beauty of India captured in photography
Parkinson and Clarke’s works still hold significance in highlighting India’s beauty and influencing the global perception of the country. Vreeland, one of the most remarkable Vogue editors, was impressed with Parkinson’s photoshoot which he had done in the summer of 1956 for British Vogue’s Winter Sunshine collection. When she became the editor of US Vogue, she wanted the December issue to be “an issue of wonders”, which led to a Vogue team being sent to India for a photoshoot with the photographer Henry Clarke.
The title of the December 1964 issue was ‘Wonders for the Christmas Eye’. The images created the impression of a lost city with the models as the only inhabitants against grand architecture and designs. The photographs were visually stunning, they portrayed India as a mysterious and beautiful country with vast expanses compared to whom the models look miniscule.
Parkinson and Clarke’s photographs remain a significant contribution to the portrayal of India’s beauty, both within the country and internationally. Their work inspired subsequent generations of photographers to capture India’s diversity and unique cultural landscape with greater sensitivity and authenticity.
