In 1938, an excavation at the ancient Roman city of Pompeii revealed a small carved ivory of Indian origin.
The art of South Asia
The carvings on the Bharhut Stupa are intricately carved—and are some of the earliest examples of narrative Buddhist art.
Bharhut Stupa Relief Sculptures
Emeralds symbolized the exotic and the rare—the perfect emblem to encapsulate the wealth and aspirations of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
Shah Jahan’s portrait, emeralds, and the exotic ...
“Company” painting identifies artists from a range of backgrounds that produced art for patrons connected to East India Companies or the wider market.
Indian Artists and the British East India ...
Sculptures from the ancient region of Gandhara are notable for their expression of Buddhist faith and unique combination of stylistic influences.
Gandharan Sculpture
Kathakali is one of Kerala’s most popular and recognizable dance forms today.
Kathakali dance and masks
Sher-Gil engages with the artists Gauguin and van Gogh in her complicated self-portrait.
Amrita Sher-Gil, Self-Portrait as a Tahitian
Paintings in the rock shelters in Bhimbetka are the oldest art of South Asia.
Bhimbetka cave paintings
Goan sculptors created images of the divine in ivory that are at once Catholic, European, and South Asian.
Christian art in India: Indo-Portuguese ivory statuettes
In tracing the histories of textile production, we encounter a turning point in the 18th century, when the Industrial Revolution impacted the production of handmade textiles.
From handmade to factory made: industry, trade ...
Do you have a lucky outfit, or a favourite accessory that you always wear when you have to take an exam, appear for an important interview or participate in a competition? You’re not alone!
Warding off the evil eye: talismanic textiles
Opulent textiles were leveraged by kingdoms and empires to affirm their place in society while also revealing deep societal imbalances.
Imperial splendour: textiles and royal life
Across daily life as well as festive occasions in the Indian subcontinent, we see the prominent use of forms of clothing that date back thousands of years.
Dress and diversity: costumes traditions of the ...
Many South Asian artisans involved in weaving, dyeing and embellishing textiles are custodians of traditions that date back centuries.
Secrets of the trade: inherited traditions
Have you ever found yourself pulling loose ends of threads from your clothes? Not only do threads like these construct textiles, but the seemingly ordinary materials they are made of are embedded in deep histories.
The fundamental ingredients of textiles: natural fibers
Vividly painted and dyed textiles were coveted items, often quite expensive and made almost exclusively by artisans in the Indian subcontinent.
Mastering color: natural dyes of the Indian ...
Visual artists from South Asia engage with materials, processes and histories associated with textiles to produce works that can provoke deeper considerations of the medium.
Expressions and experimentations: textiles in visual art
Have you ever looked at a piece of cloth and wondered how its design came to be? Most patterns and motifs we see on many textiles today have far reaching histories that transcend geographic boundaries.
Containers of confluence: imagery on painted and ...
India’s fight for independence from the British was a long struggle in which textile practices played a central part. Closely linked to the formation of the country as we know it today, these are still seen as symbols of resistance and sovereignty.
Freedom Movement: textile practices and the making ...
Megaliths from the Deccan Plateau reveal burial and ritual practices dating back to the Iron Age.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!
