Category Archives: Courtesan

On Colour

Posted on 27/06/2016 by Anu M

The most common colors on the market are the kind you cannot name, the not quite blues, not quite grays and the not quite yellows that are used only for background and referred to as neutral colors, camouflage, “civilized colors,” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1750s, 18th century, 1930s, 1940s, 20th century, 21st century, Actor, colour, Contemporary Style, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, fashion, Fashion Quote, Folk, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, natural dye, Prints, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The costumes of Devdas (1936)

Posted on 20/03/2016 by Anu M

Devdas may well be summarised by these three screen captures:) Saratchandra was 17 when he wrote Devdas, it is likely the author himself thought the novel an immature work in later age.  Despite it being a “youth novel” and  despite the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, 1930s, 20th century, Accessories, Actor, Bengal, Bengali cinema, Cinema, Colonial, Costume, costume design, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, Early 20th Century, fashion, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, regional styles, Romance, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage, vintage costume | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mulgaokar’s art

Posted on 26/08/2015 by Anu M

Filmy costumes for mythological/historical figures in Raghuvir Mulgaokar’s 1953 paintings/calendar art. Pic 1: Mastani  – this outfit aka a kameez that has a tight fitted bodice and skirt and the jhoomar for the hair is both particular to films and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, Art, Bollywood, churidar kameez, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, Deccan, Film Costuming, ghaghra, historical costume, indian art, Indian Dress, Islamic style, Maharashtra, mid century, Paintings, Rajasthan, regional styles, Sari, vintage art, women in art | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Costume Books

Posted on 17/08/2015 by Anu M

I have been reading a couple of books on Indian costumes and thought I would write a bit about two of them. Queen Subada, Detail from Shahnamah, Sultanate School, 1450. Costume Details: Phiran: of transparent material, form-fitting and ankle length, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1990s, 20th century, Accessories, Actor, Ancient India, antique, Art, Asia, Authors, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, fashion, Hinduism, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, historical hairstyles, Illustration, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian Illustrators, Indian Theatre, Indian Women, Jaina Literature, Jewellery, Medieval India, Sanskrit Drama, sari history, Theatre, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Magazine Post

Posted on 28/07/2015 by Anu M

  Covers of Chandamama Magazine. Pic 1: 1957, Pic 2: 1979, Pic 3: 1987 (Hindi), Pic 4: 1968 (Telugu), Pic 3: 1979 (Bengali), Pic 4: 1980 (Bengali), Some of the covers really require a Women in Art History deconstruction (though … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 1970s, 1980s, Comics, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, fashion, Goddess, historical costume, Illustration, indian art, Indian fashion, Indian Illustrators, Indian Mythology, Indian Tales, Magazine, Uncategorized, Vintage Illustration, Vintage Magazine | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The salwar/chudidar/kameez post-2

Posted on 26/01/2014 by Anu M

Though the Mughal-e-Azam characters have become a part of Indian cinema folklore, the film was anything but historically accurate in the matter of textual details, costumes, sets and music.  For instance, thumri, a 19th century musical form, is used along … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 19th century, churidar kameez, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, historical costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Islamic Dress, Mughal, Women | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Ancient India Post

Posted on 24/05/2013 by Anu M

Rather just a look at 2 early 20th century paintings recreating the era. From dawn until late into the night I worked. By day I copied the parts of the wall that were well lit, and by night I shifted on to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Art, Bengal, Colonial, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, fashion, Indian Dress, Paintings, Vintage, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Nautch Post

Posted on 03/04/2013 by Anu M

Ongoing posts on Indian dance, particularly in the 19th/early 20th century. This painting is Edwin Lord Weeks’  Nautch Girls emerging from the Taj Mahal. Weeks’  paintings of India have a number of quotidian details and I particularly like this one.

Posted in 1880s, 19th century, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Courtesan, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, Paintings, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Tamil Cinema Poster Post

Posted on 14/02/2013 by Anu M

I love that so many old Tamil film posters have just the actresses on them and you get to see different kinds of attire. The first film is Madanamala, where the heroine is a dancer. The second,Devamanohari, features a princess. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, 20th century, Cinema, Courtesan, Dancer, Indian Cinema, Sari, Sari Blouse, Tamil Cinema, Women | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mata Hari

Posted on 16/08/2012 by Anu M

“Javanese Hindu Princesses” seemed to have been all the go at some point and Mata Hari it appears lost little time in adopting the persona during her dancing days. And no doubt every Javanese princess had a bejewelled strap bodice.  

Posted in 1900s, Costume, Courtesan, Dancer, Early 20th Century, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment