India, circa 1885,
by John P. Nicholas

Located in the city of Agra at the edge of the Yamuna River, the Taj-Mahal was built in the 17th century by the Shah Jahan to honor his beloved wife who died in childbirth. Built with stones of pure white marble, it is said that these stone can change color depending on the light and the time of day. In this image, the British photographer John Nicholas has managed to capture the grandeur of these chameleon-like stones and contrast it beautifully with quotidian aspects of 19th century Indian life.