Calcutta. Devil Dancers.

[Original caption] Devil Dancers, Calcutta. The Devil Dancer with his painted body, hideous mask, and fantastic head-dress is supposed to strike terror unto the beholder; as a rule he but succeeds in amusing him. The attitude struck and the whole performance is more grotesque than alarming. [end]

One of the most popular Kolkata postcard subjects were these masked dancers, from Tick's first Native Life in India series.