Published at the Ravi Varma Press, Malavli, Lonavla
chromolithograph with fabric appliqué
Krishna’s parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, were imprisoned by Devaki’s brother, the tyrant king Kamsa, who had been warned by a prophecy that Devaki’s eighth child would cause his death; in fear, Kamsa murdered each of her newborn children as they were born. Krishna was miraculously born as the eighth child. He is depicted here announcing his godhead to his imprisoned parents immediately after birth, revealing his divine identity before instructing Vasudeva to carry him across the Yamuna to be raised in safety by his foster parents in Gokul, thereby escaping Kamsa’s wrath.
Oleographs, also called chromolithographs, are multi-colour art prints, stemming from the process of lithography. These immensely popular oleographs from the Ravi Varma Press quickly established a new iconographic standard for traditional Indian heroes and deities. Often, the figures were embellished with embroidered sequins and other decorative material, creating vibrant, pulsating images. After Ravi Varma was forced to sell the press and its reproduction rights in 1901, the press began producing work by other contemporaries of Ravi Varma, including C.G. Ramanujam, who produced equally vibrant work with new themes and subjects. The influence of the oleographs produced by this press remains evident in modern Indian popular art forms, such as calendar art.
Image Size (cms): 49.5 (H) x 34.5 (W)
Image Size (inches): 19.5 (H) x 13.6 (W)
Framed Size (cms): 62 (H) x 48.5 (W)
Framed Size (inches): 24.5 (H) x 19 (W)
