{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O72188"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72188/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GK6548/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GK6548/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GK6548","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH2039","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O72188/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O72188","accessionNumber":"IS.262-1955","objectType":"Painting","titles":[{"title":"A Bengali courtesan","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Painting, in watercolour and tin alloy on paper, of a Bengali courtesan with silver jewellery, holding one end of her sari over her head whilst revealing a bare right breast. The ornaments, detailed in silver colour (executed in tin alloy), may be described as stock in trade of the <i>patuas</i>. In Bengal the women during this period did not wear any other garments under their saris. WG Archer commented on this painting that her opulent form, her pinkish-brown flesh tones and pale blue sari with prominent folds anticipate the bold and curvaceous style.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"watercolour","id":"AAT15045"},{"text":"tin alloy","id":"AAT10978"},{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Painted in watercolour and tin alloy on paper","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project","id":"THES263148"}],"styles":[{"text":"Kalighat","id":"AAT18988"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2013GK6548","2006AH2039"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES403784"},"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":"ca. 1890","earliest":"1885-01-01","latest":"1894-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by M. N. Varvill, Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"18","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Bengali woman Public'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed on reverse in English"}],"objectHistory":"Given by M N Varvill, Esq., in 1955.\n\nHistorical significance: Calcutta was the capital of British India from 1833-1912. By the 1830s, artists had arrived in Calcutta from rural villages in Bengal and began to produce paintings that reflected the local history, mythology, customs and conflicts of a colonised society. As a popular art form, these artists are recognised for their use of brilliant colour, simplified images and swift brushstrokes that became the hallmark of Kalighat painting in the 19th and early 20th century.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Painting, Bengali courtesan, watercolour and tin alloy on paper, Kalighat, Kolkata, ca. 1890","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) :","id":"AUTH339757"},"details":"p.52","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Kalighat paintings : a catalogue and introduction / by W.G. Archer. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1971 Number: 0112900291 :","id":"AUTH337614"},"details":"Fig. no. 54, Cat. no. 26, xx: p.73.","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"A Bengali courtesan with silver jewellery, holding one end of her sari over her head whilst revealing a bare right breast. ","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"courtesan","id":"AAT236521"},{"text":"jewellery","id":"AAT209286"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.262-1955"],"accessionNumberNum":"262","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1955,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2002-12-18","availableToBook":true}}