Revelations and Reverences affords a glimpse of India’s wonderful artwork historical past

Shakuntala by Paul Gerhardt from Revelations and Reverences
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

A curated assortment of oil work, watercolours, chromolithographs, litho stones, terracotta dolls and different artefacts is at present on show at Gallery G within the metropolis, providing artwork and historical past lovers a uncommon glimpse of India’s treasure trove of artwork.

Titled Revelations and Reverences, the exhibition showcases works from the mid-Nineteenth century to Unbiased India. In accordance with Archana Shenoy, Director, Curatorial Practices for Gallery G, a bit referred to as Picture Transfer On focuses on Indian imagery despatched overseas for the aim of copy or printmaking. It was the customized for artwork brokers to purchase paintings from particular person artists and ship them overseas to lithograph makers, in Italy, Germany or England to make prints as manufacturing values in Europe had been less expensive.

Gajalaxmi Saraswati Ganapati calendar and litho stone from Revelations and Reverences
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

When the brokers received these prints again, they had been in a position to promote them at a less expensive value, making them extra inexpensive, adorning virtually each residence within the nation.

Understandably, lithographers in Europe weren’t conscious of the importance of Indian customs, deities and mythology. “Over time lithographers began adding their own touches to these images resulting in a curious combination of two different types of art,” says Archana.

Lithographing was a painstaking and labour-intensive course of. Originals had been painted utilizing oils on paper measuring 20×24” to suit onto hand-run machines. They had been reproduced in mirror picture on limestone blocks utilizing black lithographic chalk or crayon. Color parts had been added one after the other and allowed to set on the paper earlier than the block was cleaned and the following color was added to the picture.

Venulola by GV Venkatesh Rao from Revelations and Reverences
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

It was at this stage within the re-production of pictures that additions and aberrations crept in. Saris draped over the flawed shoulder, the canines in Dattatreya’s iconography depicted as European breeds — quickly, these apparent prints from overseas had been in larger demand.

Aside from work, there are a number of terracotta collectible figurines on mortgage from Ashvita’s, an artwork gallery in Chennai. Lithographs had been made between 1880 and 1900 and some many years later, these pictures turned the bottom fashions on which the terracotta figures had been created.

“The exhibition highlights how pictures progressed from one medium to the following, all of the whereas holding facial options, costumes and accoutrements precisely the identical,“ says Archana.

Untitled Portrait of a Girl by Ustad Allah Bux
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

On show at Revelations and Reverences are uncommon works by masters comparable to C Kondaiah Raju, popularly recognized for his calendar artwork and pictures on firecracker bins from Sivakasi. “He was also a brilliant artist and we have two of his works at the exhibition — an original oil and a wash on board. There’s also an original portrait by Mysore court artist K Keshavaiah famous for the durbar scene murals still seen at the Mysore palace.”

Early Dutch Bengal work, unique Kalighat sketches, watercolours and portraits by artists comparable to M V Dhurandhar, B P Banerjee, Ustad Allah Bux and different gems from the treasure trove of time are on show.

Revelations & Reverences is on show at Gallery G until February 28, 2023.

A terracotta Laxmi figurine from Revelations and Reverences
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association

Godohana by MV Dhurandhar from Revelations and Reverences
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association