“The Indian Horizon: The Advent of European Influence in Indian Art”
Tracing the transformative impact of European engagement with the Indian subcontinent, “The Indian Horizon: The Advent of European Influence in Indian Art” opens up the visual and ideological shifts that accompanied this era of artistic convergence. Here, the works of Thomas and William Daniell are juxtaposed with antique stone sculptures to chart a pivotal moment in the history of Indian art: when colonial presence marked a shift in the artistic, cultural and social dynamics in the subcontinent.
Two stone sculptures sit at the entrance of the exhibit, carved with an extreme attention to detail. These are sculptures of Vishnu and Mahishasur- deities in Hindu culture, carved by artisans from a single stone. This method and process of creating stone sculptures is typical of ancient Indian practices of art making. Following narratives of mythology, ancestral stories and worship- these artworks exert the importance of the divine body in traditional Indian art.
In the West, a fantastical and mystical version of the East was brewing. A land earlier unseen by the British, India attracted many artists, engravers and painters to its land. Initially made to showcase the landscape and architecture of Colonial India to British citizens- the aquatints made by Thomas and William Daniell define a pivotal shift from traditional Indian art. Incredibly detailed prints that emphasise the grandeur of architecture and vastness of the Empire were produced, often diminishing the people of the subcontinent. Although their intention was drenched in colonial sentiment, the works mark a turn to naturalism and the realistic portrayal of form seen in Modern Indian Art. This change in artistic portrayal can be seen in later works during the pre-modern and modern era of Indian art.