In focus · Academic realism · 1848–1906
Raja Ravi Varma
Ravi Varma combined European academic techniques with subjects from Indian literature and mythology. His portraits and narrative paintings made him widely celebrated. Reproductions produced through his printing press helped carry these images into homes across India.
What to look for
Study the fabric, light and carefully staged gesture. Consider how painting and mass reproduction changed the reach of art.
The portraits of Sher-Gil and Husain are AI-illustrated tributes, not original artworks or archival photographs.