{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O184439"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O184439/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GK1362/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GK1362/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GK1362","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O184439/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O184439","accessionNumber":"IS.307-1951","objectType":"Print","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Abanindranath Tagore (1871 - 1951) was the pioneer and leading exponent of the Bengal School of Art. In his paintings, he sought to counter the influence of Western art as taught in art schools under the British Raj, by modernizing indigenous Moghul and Rajput traditions. His work became so influential that it was eventually accepted and regarded as a national Indian style within British and international art institutions.\r\n\r\nThe artist studied Japanese art under Japanese artists, Taikoan and Hilsida and assimilated Far Eastern techniques such as the wash into his work. His Omar Khaiyam series (1906-08) reflects such influences. Abanindranath’s use of colour was also highly personalized and found its appropriate language in two major techniques: wash and tempera.\r\n\r\nThe print illustrates the Rubaiyat of Omar Khaiyam, a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer (1048–1131). The artist has depicted this traditional subject in a highly romanticised style. Abanindranath dedicated the print to orientalist scholar Ernest Binfield Havell, the principal of the Government School of Art, Calcutta from 1896-1905. The inscription reads: \"To my guru H.B. Havell'' May 23, 1911, Calcutta.","physicalDescription":"Reproduction of a watercolour, the print illustrates the <i>Rubaiyat </i>of Omar Khaiyam, a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer (1048–1131). On front and reverse is a printed label quoting Quatrain XLVI.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Tagore, Abanindranath","id":"A9969"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Print; reproduction of a watercolour","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project","id":"THES263148"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2013GK1362"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES403815"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"painting","id":"AAT33618"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Kolkata","id":"x32018"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"23/05/1911","earliest":"1911-05-23","latest":"1911-05-23"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Lady Sonia Wilson, daughter of E.B. Havell","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"19.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"26.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Conservation paper upon which card is mounted","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"17.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Conservation paper upon which card is mounted","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\r\n\r\n\r\nOn front and reverse a printed label quoting Quatrain XLVI:\r\n\r\n\"For in an art, above, above, below,\r\n'Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show,\r\nPlay'd in a Box whose Candle is the Sun,\r\nRound which we Phantom Figures come and go.\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signature in Persian, on right hand corner in black paint. "},{"content":"'To my guru H.B. Havell May 23, 1911, Calcutta'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"on the reverse, the artist's inscription "}],"objectHistory":"On the reverse the artist's inscription to Havell reads: \r\n\"To my guru H.B. Havell'' May 23, 1911, Calcutta\r\nGiven by Lady Sonia Wilson, daughter of E.B. Havell. RF: 51/3488","historicalContext":"Abanindranath Tagore (1871 - 1951) was the pioneer and leading exponent of the Bengal School of Art. In his paintings, he sought to counter the influence of Western art as taught in art schools under the British Raj, by modernizing indigenous Moghul and Rajput traditions. His work became so influential that it was eventually accepted and regarded as a national Indian style within British and international art institutions.\r\n\r\nIn his work, Abanindranath retrieved themes from the Indian epic past or scenes from romantic tales, such as Arabian Nights or Omar Khaiyam and reworked them in a highly romanticised style. The artist’s desire to emancipate Indian art from European influence was also fostered by Japanese artist Okakura Kakuzo, who visited him in 1902. Later, studying Japanese art under Japanese artists, Taikoan and Hilsida, Abanindranath assimilated Far Eastern techniques such as the wash into his work. His Omar Khaiyam series (1906-08) reflects such influences. Abanindranath’s use of colour was also highly personalized and found its appropriate language in two major techniques: wash and tempera.","briefDescription":"Painting reproduction, illustration to <i>Rubaiyat</i> of Omar Khayam, by Abanindranath Tagore, reproduction of a watercolour on paper, Kolkata, 23 May 1911","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Dr Ratan Parimoo, The paintings of the three great Tagores: Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore and Rabindranath Tagore. Chronology and comparative studies, 1973"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"The <i>Rubaiyat </i>of Omar Khaiyam, a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer (1048–1131).","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.307-1951"],"accessionNumberNum":"307","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1951,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2009-01-22","availableToBook":true}}