Devil Dancers, Sri Lanks, Albumen Print

Att. Colombo Apothearies, Albumen Print, c.1890 image 27cm x 80.8cm, tited in the negative '215 DEVIL DANCERS' in modern mount

Footnote: The Sri Lankan devil dancers, or yakun natum, are part of a rich ritual tradition rooted in ancient Sinhalese folklore. These dramatic performances, featuring elaborate masks and vibrant costumes, were traditionally used in exorcism rituals to ward off malevolent spirits believed to cause illness and misfortune. The dancers embody various demons or deities, enacting symbolic battles between good and evil, accompanied by drumming and chanting.

By the 19th century, as British colonial influence expanded across Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), these performances attracted the attention of European photographers and ethnographers. Early studio and field photographs captured devil dancers in full costume, offering Western audiences a glimpse into what was seen as the "exotic" rituals of the East. These images, while often staged, provide valuable visual documentation of traditional Sri Lankan cultural practices during a time of colonial transformation