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Painting

ca. 1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Painting, in watercolour on paper, courtesan drawn in brown flesh tones wearing a red sari with black borders, shown with her left arm holding her long dark hair.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted in watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting, courtesan dressing her hair, by Kali Charan Ghosh, watercolour on paper, Kalighat, Kolkata, ca. 1900
Physical description
Painting, in watercolour on paper, courtesan drawn in brown flesh tones wearing a red sari with black borders, shown with her left arm holding her long dark hair.
Dimensions
  • Height: 18cm
  • Width: 11in
Content description
A courtesan drawn in brown flesh tones wearing a red sari with black borders, shown with her left arm holding her long dark hair.
Style
Credit line
Given by W.G. Archer
Object history
Historical significance: Calcutta was recognised as the Capital of British India from 1833-1912. By the 1830s, artists had arrived from rural villages in Bengal and began to produce paintings that reflected local history, mythology, customs and conflicts of a colonised society. As a popular art form, these artists are recognised for their use of brilliant colour, simplified images and swift brush strokes that became the hallmark of Kalighat. Originally purchased at Kalighat in 1932 from the family of the artist Nirbaran Chandra Ghosh (c. 1835-1930). painting in the 19th and early 20th century.
Subject depicted
Bibliographic references
  • Kalighat paintings : a catalogue and introduction / by W.G. Archer. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1971 Number: 0112900291 : Fig. D, cat. no. 36, iii.
  • Archer, W.G., Bazaar Paintings of Calcutta, Victoria & Albert Museum, H.M.S.O., 1955 p. 24, fig. 40
Collection
Accession number
IS.37-1952

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Record createdJanuary 7, 2003
Record URL
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