Scots-born photographer Fred Bremner produced several images of Indian artisans at work. These photographs hint at the abundance of material wealth that placed India at the heart of Britain's colonial economy. Such images satisfied the huge interest in the subcontinent that had been fuelled by the International Exhibitions of London (1886) and Glasgow (1888). Bremner has a very distinctive compositional format which he incorporates in several of his portraits of tradesmen. His use of strong lines and circles create a striking image. These scenes are often staged to show the various tasks involved in the production process. Here, one man writes in the ledger while the other demonstrates the practical skills involved.