Group of Courtesans, Company style, 19th century, northern India
During India’s colonial period (1757–1947), the British imperial system sought out Indian resources for exploitation and had a dramatic impact on the traditional arts and crafts of the subcontinent. Robert DeCaroli, a professor in the department of history and art history at George Mason University, traces the rising influence of European powers in South Asia. He begins with the art of the late Mughal Empire and delves into the expansion of the British East India Company and development of the Raj. Topics include late art of the Mughal Empire, Company painting, Orientalism, photography, traditional crafts for domestic and foreign markets, Indo-Saracenic architecture, and colonial museums.
March 25 Craft and Consumption: Textiles and the Decorative Arts
The rise of the British East India Company and the demand for Indian products, resources, and artistic expertise are examined though South Asian material culture and British display practices.
April 1 Expressions of Power: Architecture and Empire
The architecture of the British empire is traced from the late Mughal dynasty to the embrace of the Indo-Saracenic style that became popular during the Raj. Also covered is the trend for Orientalist forms in Britian.
April 8 The Art of Presentation: Photography, Glassware, and Jewelry
The old South Asian use of ornament to project refinement is examined in various media, including new forms of glassware and new media like photography. A famously "cursed" diamond is also discussed.
April 15 Old Traditions and New Ideas: Paintings and Prints
The history of British imperialism in South Asia—and the rise of Indian nationalism and independence—is told through the shifting artistic traditions in paint and print.
4 sessions
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