DOI Heft:
Nr. 164 (October, 1910)
DOI Artikel:Coomaraswamy, Ananda K.: Night effects in Indian pictures
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19867#0404
Night Effects in Indian Pictures
NIGHT EFFECTS IN INDIAN have been chosen to illustrate the subject of this
PICTURES. note need little explanation. The first, Riding by
Night, represents Baz Bahadur and Rupmatl. Baz
The representation of night effects is Bahadur ruled over Malwa, 1554-1570. Rupmatl
a very characteristic feature of Indian painting. It was a Hindu poetess, famed throughout India for
is true that in Persian illuminations we occasionally beauty and learning. Their love is the theme of
find night scenes depicted, when necessary to the many songs. When Baz Bahadur, in 1570, was
illustration of the subject in hand, but in such defeated by Akbar's general, Adham Khan, Rupmatl
paintings there-is no representation of night effects. took poison to avoid his impcrtunity. The picture,
We only [gather from the burning cressets and or a variant of it, in which the two are riding out
lighted candles that events are taking place at night, by day to hawk, is represented in many collec-
In Indian paintings we have all the romance and tions. The example here given is one of two
mystery of night itself, painted for its own sake, almost identical versions in the collection cf Mr.
The night in India, almost more than the day, is C. H. Read.
the time of awakeness and of action; it is the The second picture shows three Hindu girls, two
time for discourse and en-
tertainment, for travel, for
worship and for love. It
is a time of exquisite con-
trasts, when the torch of a
guide or the flame of a
camp fire lights up the
traveller's face, or the
crowded candles illuminate
the gold inwoven dress
and tinkling jewels of the
dancer. At night the
water-fete is at its height
and one may see the gaily
decorated barge of a great
guild of craftsmen, or of a
prince or rajah, threading
its way amongst the mass
of smaller craft that crowd
round the boats where
music and dancing are
going on, or provisions are
for sale. At night the bride
waits for her beloved. At
night the gods are borne
in procession round the
temple ambulatory, with
music and dance. And it
is at night that men and
women steal away to lonely
hermitages to talk with
those for whom the world
is vanity, or go with offer-
ings and devotion to some
garden shrine of Mahadev.
All this full life finds
passionate expression in
Indian painting. ^ "riding by night." from an Indian picture (prob. 17TH century)
The four pictures which (In ike Collection of C. H. Read, Esq.)
3°5
NIGHT EFFECTS IN INDIAN have been chosen to illustrate the subject of this
PICTURES. note need little explanation. The first, Riding by
Night, represents Baz Bahadur and Rupmatl. Baz
The representation of night effects is Bahadur ruled over Malwa, 1554-1570. Rupmatl
a very characteristic feature of Indian painting. It was a Hindu poetess, famed throughout India for
is true that in Persian illuminations we occasionally beauty and learning. Their love is the theme of
find night scenes depicted, when necessary to the many songs. When Baz Bahadur, in 1570, was
illustration of the subject in hand, but in such defeated by Akbar's general, Adham Khan, Rupmatl
paintings there-is no representation of night effects. took poison to avoid his impcrtunity. The picture,
We only [gather from the burning cressets and or a variant of it, in which the two are riding out
lighted candles that events are taking place at night, by day to hawk, is represented in many collec-
In Indian paintings we have all the romance and tions. The example here given is one of two
mystery of night itself, painted for its own sake, almost identical versions in the collection cf Mr.
The night in India, almost more than the day, is C. H. Read.
the time of awakeness and of action; it is the The second picture shows three Hindu girls, two
time for discourse and en-
tertainment, for travel, for
worship and for love. It
is a time of exquisite con-
trasts, when the torch of a
guide or the flame of a
camp fire lights up the
traveller's face, or the
crowded candles illuminate
the gold inwoven dress
and tinkling jewels of the
dancer. At night the
water-fete is at its height
and one may see the gaily
decorated barge of a great
guild of craftsmen, or of a
prince or rajah, threading
its way amongst the mass
of smaller craft that crowd
round the boats where
music and dancing are
going on, or provisions are
for sale. At night the bride
waits for her beloved. At
night the gods are borne
in procession round the
temple ambulatory, with
music and dance. And it
is at night that men and
women steal away to lonely
hermitages to talk with
those for whom the world
is vanity, or go with offer-
ings and devotion to some
garden shrine of Mahadev.
All this full life finds
passionate expression in
Indian painting. ^ "riding by night." from an Indian picture (prob. 17TH century)
The four pictures which (In ike Collection of C. H. Read, Esq.)
3°5