Hemendranath Mazumdar‘s naturalistic oils of partially clothed, vaguely erotic looking women were unsurprisingly popular in the 1920s and 1930s. He was paid large sums for his work, which often boasted titles like Wounded Vanity, Manas Kamal, Echo of Love and Lady in Blue and Gold.
In a number of paintings Mazumdar’s models are clothed in a similar manner. The plain, gold bordered saris for one (touches of gold were common in Indian paintings from this time). Where there are blouses, they are often fairly snug and brief. There are little motifs on the blouses. And there is the jewellery – gold arm bands and bracelets and in at least two here a waist chain/belt. Hair ornaments like in painting 3. And of course the feet are bare, sometimes with hints of alta.
Vintage Indian Clothing 
So interesting!
Interesting and informative post
Reblogged this on SABAS LOG and commented:
An interesting and informative post of 1920’s Indian paintings.
Reblogged this on aksharaalu – Best Collections.
Very beautiful.
it was mine …………..lost to sibblings……my father bought it in 1952 from an auction from the maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir in Bombay………….believed to have been auctioned in 2012 heart broken!….the lady by the pond! lost forever, would love to know who is the new owner!
I am sorry to hear that. I know nothing about the painting’s owners I found it on the Net.
The link I found it as follows:
Maybe you can check with artfact?
I did ………..they cannot disclose the name of the purchaser!………..I did not know till yesterday that it was auctioned!…..if you have any info re the new owner…….I would like to make contact
…………perhaps buy it back!
Ah I see, pity I can’t help further!