Vishwarup Darshan

by Raja Ravi Varma

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Details

Size:	21 x 15 inches (Framed)
Press:	Ravi Varma Press, Karla-Lonavala
Condition:	Minor water stains; good condition
Medium:	Oleograph (Decorated)
Signature:	Bottom Left
Year:	1910s/20s

Description

This is an early, and rare oleograph of “Vishwarup Darshan” by Ravi Varma from the 1910s/20s. The image depicts the moment when Yashoda realises her son Krishna is in fact an avatar of Vishnu, an omniscient form that pervades the entire universe. The story goes that infant Krishna is wrongly accused of eating a bit of dirt. His mother scolds him and he denies it. “Open your mouth,” orders Yashoda. Krishna does as he is told and Yashoda sees in Krishna’s mouth the entire universe, ‘all the stars and planets of space and the distance between them, all the lands and seas of the earth and the life in them; she sees all the days of yesterday and all the days of tomorrow; she sees all ideas and all emotions, all pity and all hope, and the three strands of matter; not a pebble, candle, creature, village or galaxy is missing, including herself and every bit of dirt in its truthful place.”
This oleograph has delicate ornamentation. The shimmer enhances its beauty, making it unique and more valuable. There are small water stains at the bottom, but the piece is otherwise in good condition.

Description

This is an early, and rare oleograph of “Vishwarup Darshan” by Ravi Varma from the 1910s/20s. The image depicts the moment when Yashoda realises her son Krishna is in fact an avatar of Vishnu, an omniscient form that pervades the entire universe. The story goes that infant Krishna is wrongly accused of eating a bit of dirt. His mother scolds him and he denies it. “Open your mouth,” orders Yashoda. Krishna does as he is told and Yashoda sees in Krishna’s mouth the entire universe, ‘all the stars and planets of space and the distance between them, all the lands and seas of the earth and the life in them; she sees all the days of yesterday and all the days of tomorrow; she sees all ideas and all emotions, all pity and all hope, and the three strands of matter; not a pebble, candle, creature, village or galaxy is missing, including herself and every bit of dirt in its truthful place.”
This oleograph has delicate ornamentation. The shimmer enhances its beauty, making it unique and more valuable. There are small water stains at the bottom, but the piece is otherwise in good condition.

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ABOUT Raja Ravi Varma

Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was a celebrated Indian artist, famous for his realistic portrayal of Indian gods, goddesses and mythological characters, in scenes adapted mainly from the Mahabharata, Ramayana and the Puranas.

Considered to be one of the greatest painters in the history of Indian art, Ravi Varma fused European techniques with a pure Indian sensibility. Though a protégé of royalty, Raja Ravi Varma was the first to make prints (or lithographs) of his artworks affordable and easily available, bringing fine art to the masses. In fact, the Raja Ravi Varma Press was started in Mumbai by him in 1894, and managed by his brother Raja Varma, before being bought over by a German company.

An original 1890 Ravi Varma oil on canvas, titled 'Radha In The Moonlight' was sold for a whopping Rs. 20 crores at a Pundole auction in November 2016.

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ABOUT Oleographs

Oleographs, also called chromolithographs, are multi-colour art prints, stemming from the process of lithography. Pioneered in the 1830s, the process of producing oleographs came into wide commercial use in the 1860s. The technique relied on using several woodblocks or stones with colours for printing, while hand-colouring remained an important aspect as well. Depending on the number of colours present, an oleograph could take months to produce by very skilled workers. Poor preservation and cheaper printing alternatives have made oleographs hard to find. Today, they are mainly used as fine art.

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Details

Size:	21 x 15 inches (Framed)
Press:	Ravi Varma Press, Karla-Lonavala
Condition:	Minor water stains; good condition
Medium:	Oleograph (Decorated)
Signature:	Bottom Left
Year:	1910s/20s

Returns

We accept returns within 7 days of delivery if the item reaches you in damaged condition.
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All orders are insured for transit.

This item cannot be shipped outside India.

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