Sher-Gil engages with the artists Gauguin and van Gogh in her complicated self-portrait.
1857-present contemporary
A Galaxy of Musicians, one of Ravi Varma’s most famous paintings, depicts 11 Indian women who appear to be in the midst of an elaborate musical performance.
Raja Ravi Varma, A Galaxy of Musicians
Gargoyles and a clock? Learn about Bombay Gothic.
F.W. Stevens with Sitaram Khanderao and Madherao ...
The East India Company produced thousands of views that helped to consolidate its authority over much of South Asia in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Recording and representing India: the East India ...
Maithil painters use imagery from their own lives and share their personal perspectives in their artwork
Painting in Mithila, an introduction
Far from a belated version of European photography, photography in India developed rapidly and in parallel with European photographic practices.
Photographic views of nineteenth-century India, an introduction
Cloth paintings (patas) mapped the topography of sacred Jain pilgrimage sites (tirthas)
A Jain pilgrimage map of Shatrunjaya
After a violent crime in Delhi, Jas Charanjiva turned to art to confront harmful social conventions and raise awareness about the "boom" of new cultural attitudes towards women and women's safety.
Jas Charanjiva on “Don’t Mess With Me”
The Singh Twins discuss the appropriation of British and Asian culture within the UK.
The Singh Twins, EnTWINed
Behold (2009) consists of two contrasting materials, steel car bumpers and knotted human hair.
An interview with Sheela Gowda
Photographer Sunil Gupta talks about how his work in the dark room helped him deal with his HIV positive diagnosis
An interview with Sunil Gupta
Photographer Dayanita Singh explains how her photography books are like sculptures.
An interview with Dayanita Singh
Naeem Mohaiemen works with film, installation and essays. Mohaiemen combines autobiography and history to explore how national borders create new peoples. His material includes the film archives and the way their contents can be lost, fabricated and reanimated.
Naeem Mohaiemen
"My work is about opening up a conversation and opening up other ways of seeing."
An interview with Sheba Chhachhi
"I'm attracted to the myths because, for me, it's a language to link with people."
The Artist Project: Nalini Malani
"I don't have to believe in the Shiva, but I cannot ignore what this object was meant to be."
The Artist Project: Izhar Patkin
Artist Zarina Hashmi left India in 1958, her family were subject to relocation from Delhi to Karachi following the partition of India and Pakistan.
An interview with Zarina Hashmi
Zarina Hashmi on Arabic calligraphy "Once you are separated from language, it's a great loss."
The Artist Project: Zarina Hashmi
Shahzia Sikander on Persian miniature painting: "My interest was to understand the social construct of the so-called 'traditional genre.'"
The Artist Project: Shahzia Sikander
Renowned contemporary fashion designer Manish Arora welcomes the V&A into his studio, and offers exclusive insight into his work and inspirations.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!
