Dikshita Dwivedi

The Harvest (Shukaku) (1890) by Asai Chū (1856-1907) is a seminal work of Japanese Yōga (Western-style painting) that marks the transition from idealization to Meiji realism. Created during the Meiji era, the oil on canvas (housed at Tokyo University of the Arts) depicts peasants during…

Bhawani Das was an Indian painter who worked in the late eighteenth century and was known for his detailed paintings of birds, animals and other natural subjects. He worked during the period when European officials and collectors in India showed a growing interest in documenting…

This album leaf uses delicate mineral colors and ink to create a calm, reflective elegance typical of Qing literati archaism. White magnolias and pink crabapples bloom beside a perforated Taihu rock, a rebus for yutang fugui - wealth and honor in the jade hall. The…

What we see in this painting is a black silhouette of a person standing on a hill and offering a bunch of flowers to the mountains. There are small pine trees on both sides and in the background there are big mountains and inside the…

Krishna and Balarama reached the main gate of Kamsa's palace. A washerman was about to enter the gate. He had a load of Kamsa's best silks, cleaned specially for the function. Balarama asked him for clothes. The washerman insulted them. Krishna heard this and gave…

Artist Silpi was a famous artist from Tamil Nadu. His real name was P. Subramanian. He was born in 1929. He is known for drawing Hindu Gods, temple stories and Siddhars in a very realistic and devotional style. People liked his work because it looked…

This icon shows the moment when Jesus becomes divine light in front of his disciples. This is called the Transfiguration. In the middle, Jesus is standing on a mountain, wearing bright white clothes. Around him there is a big star shape made of white light.…

This painting is a page from the Hamzanama, a big story book made for Emperor Akbar. It is called "Misbah the Grocer Brings the Spy Parran to his House" and it was painted by Daswanth with help from Mithra. In the picture we see a…

This painting is a single red tulip made by the famous Mughal painter Mansur. It is a very simple painting but it has deep meaning. In the painting we see only one tulip flower with a long green stem and two thin leaves. The flower…

This painting is a Mughal style miniature. In the centre we see a king or a royal person sitting on a high throne inside a courtyard. He is wearing light pink clothes and a white turban. Around him there are many courtiers standing and talking.…

This painting is called Wintry Groves in Snow and it is made by the famous Chinese artist Fan Kuan who lived in the Song dynasty around 1000 AD. What we see in the painting is a big snow covered landscape. In the front there are…

What we see in this picture is a person sitting alone under a big tree. The person is wearing light yellow clothes and is sitting on the ground with knees folded. His face looks calm and thoughtful. In front of him there are some small…

What we see in this image is a simple pencil sketch portrait of a man in three quarter profile looking downward to the left, with light shading showing his moustache, combed hair and gentle expression, his shoulders only lightly drawn so the focus remains on…

This painting is by M. F. Pithawalla - Manchershaw Fakirjee Pithawalla - Bombay School, c. late 19th / early 20th century. This is a classic colonial portrait. The artwork shows an elderly Parsee scholar/priest seated on a chair, next to a table with books. He…

This painting shows two young women close to each other near water. One is sitting on a rock, looking down, her face sad and tired. The other is standing behind her, hugging her gently from the back, trying to comfort her. Both are wearing light…

This painting is a traditional Chinese landscape, called shan shui which means mountain and water. In the image we see a very tall and strange shaped rocky mountain on the left side. The mountain looks powerful and old, with trees growing on it. Hidden in…

This Mughal miniature shows a royal court filled with tension and drama. At the center sits the king on an elevated, jeweled throne, calm and authoritative, gesturing with his hand as if passing judgment. Before him stands a bearded courtier in a golden sash, arguing…

The artwork shows a very emotional and dark scene. A single man is standing inside a dark prison cell. We can see him from behind. He is looking out of a small, high window where little light is coming in. The walls of the prison…

In the painting we can see 5 people sitting in a green garden near a river. One man in yellow and one in white are talking to each other. They look like a prince and a holy man. Two musicians are sitting behind them with…

This Mughal miniature painting shows a historical scene full of life and emotion where a king, probably Emperor Akbar, is standing in shallow water between decorated royal boats while a large crowd of courtiers, soldiers and common people are watching him from both sides near…

This painting from the Akbarnama shows Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri watching his dream city being built. It is not just a picture of a king, it is a picture of hard work. We see workers cutting stones, carrying mud, pulling ropes. We see elephants…

The painting delivers a powerful message about human kindness, loyalt and divine reward. It shows the humble Moabite widow Ruth approaching the wealthy and older landowner Boaz while he rests at night. The artistic meaning of the canvas highlights the choice to trust in someone's…

This artwork by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury is titled Pipre o Piprir Katha. It is a simple black ink drawing on paper. It shows two ants travelling together in a small boat. The boat is made from a rice husk and they are using a small…

The painting is called Kamangapura by artist S.N. Gupta. It's a black and white ink sketch not a colour painting. In the picture we see a very old and tall house in a narrow street. The house is shown made of bricks and wood with…

On the upper blue carpet sits the Mulla, the teacher, with an orange turban and white beard. In front of him are his students. In the center, two children sit intimately close, sharing a book - the girl in a lilac jama is *Layla* and…

This painting, A Hindu Bridegroom's Marriage Procession from the Patna School and attributed to Sewak Ram, captures a traditional Hindu wedding custom of early 19th century Bihar. It showcases a grand night-time baraat. The groom sits at the back on a horse, under a golden…

This Canaletto painting is not just a beautiful view of Venice, it is about architecture and power of seeing. With a surveyor-like precision, Canaletto shows the Grand Canal receding deep into the distance, anchoring it with the Campo della Carità on the right and small…

This is an old Chinese ink painting, black ink on white paper. You can see big mountains covered in mist and clouds. On the mountains there are many trees - pine and bamboo. There are small houses, temples and huts hidden in the hills. There…

The work shows the Mughal emperor's deep love for nature and scientific observation, started by Jahangir. The bird is painted with great detail on a rock near water, with a smaller bird calling in the distance. The rich blue and gold floral border represents a…

Breton's painting is not just a peasant scene but a symbol of hope and spiritual awakening. The lark, invisible but heard at dawn, represents an unseen higher calling that makes hard rural labor bearable. The girl pausing her work shows a moment of inner freedom…

There is a big old tree with white flowers, some chrysanthemum flowers below, and 5-6 birds sitting and flying around it. The background is light brown. Two long tail birds are on the ground, one is on a branch. All the birds are different but…

The page contains two paintings enclosed by one border. In the painting a man in a blue dress kneels on the ground and reads a long paper scroll with great care. The man wears a cap and displays a white beard. In the painting a…

The painting shows a quiet lake side. There are two small huts on the left, a bare thin tree in front, open grassy land, a blue lake behind, and big mountains in the background. The sky is light blue with some soft clouds. The colours…

The painting shows a young woman sitting alone in a summer garden. She is wearing a light, fancy dress with soft blue and white colours. She is holding a small fan, and an umbrella is lying behind her. Around her there are flowers, leaves and…

Min Zhen was a Chinese painter from 1700s, Qing dynasty. He was from Yangzhou group. Those painters didn't like to follow strict rules, they liked to paint free and funny things. He mostly painted people, so painting a big cat was different for him. The…

The painting shows the painful moment when Jesus is being lifted up on the cross. Some men are pushing the cross with full strength, while Jesus hangs in pain but still looks calm and peaceful. Around him, Mary and his disciples turn their faces away…

This Mughal miniature by Murad shows Qulij Khan surrendering the conquered fort to Shah Jahan's army-in the center the mughal commander on a white horse with his cavalry, on the left the defeated group offering keys and around them elephants, fighting horsemen, fort walls depicting…

This Nurpur Rasamanjari folio depicts Praudha Proshita Bhartrika Nayika, a female who is upset about her absent husband. Her friend can be seen as a companion who is maybe providing support and care. It showcases the Pahari aesthetic of Ashta-Nayika bheda and explores Shringara in…

The painting shows a lot of movement and a whole lot of chaos because it is showing a hunting scene from Akbar's time. Akbar in this artwork holds significance and power. He is shown at the top of the artwork whereas everyone else is shown…