Online Exhibitions

Hello & Goodbye: Postcards from the Early 20th Century

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Delving into the dynamics between print culture, colonial propaganda and the question of identity, this digital exhibition offers a glimpse into life in the early 20th century. Picture postcards from this period are unique and often overlooked resources to analyse trends in imagery, types of messages conveyed and the demographics of those who wrote these postcards. Most importantly, they humanise a population that existed in a rather turbulent period of history. 

Experience these tangents through MAP’s collection of picture postcards in four journeys: photography, Indian printing presses, how postcards emerged as a collector’s item and through tourism and lived experiences. 

Who would have thought that a simple paper card would revolutionise communication?

This digital exhibition is an iteration of the exhibition Hello & Goodbye: Postcards from the Early 20th Century curated at the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru, April – August 2024. 

Esplanade Bandstand, Bombay (Recto & Verso), 1900s, India, Collotype, H. 8.8 x W. 13.8 cm, POP. 32165, From the Collection of Kenneth X and Joyce Robbins