Spring is always the red tower of the May tree; alive, shaken with bees, smelling of honey; and the blood, a moving tree of May, (Judith Wright). Its spring – sort of – in the Southern Hemisphere. Today’s painting is … Continue reading
Gaganendranath Tagore‘s “Respecting Women?” illustration of 1916. (via sotheby’s). Things haven’t changed vastly in a 100 odd years.
One of the most significant influencers of the way we dress in India was the freedom movement, in particular Gandhi’s thoughts on the moral dimension of clothing, the quest for an authentic Indianness and clothing as a unifier of India’s … Continue reading
This gallery contains 3 photos.
In the Gallery: 1. “An elegant lady stands facing right holding a white floral garland with both hands. She is finely dressed in an olive green pleated sari edged with gold over a crimson underskirt, the end draped over her head like … Continue reading
Sunayani Devi stands out not because of her degree of conformity to male peers but because of her distinct pursuit of a personal vision. Although Abanindranath Tagore and the Bengal School would have been influential, her concerns were more mythic … Continue reading
Lesbianism in 18th century art. And an extract from Ismat Chughtai’s Tedhi Lakir.
William Gedney in Benares. Zohra is 101. Early 19th century attire for young Bengali gentlemen – (X), (X) Ornaments for the hair and arm. Ornaments : 1st century AD to the 19th century.
“The Maharaja of Indore came to the studio to be photographed, also in Western clothes-sack suit and formal evening dress. He was young, tall and very elegant“ Cartier wearing aesthete, photographed by Man Ray (a particularly fruitful photo session) and Bassano, painted by Bernard Boutet De Monvel (he … Continue reading
On the tilaka/bindi/the red dot. I wish I had proper referencing for this but it is a bit difficult since there are stray lines here and there in texts which discuss costume on the whole or the odd artwork and nothing substantive. … Continue reading
Vintage Indian Clothing 