He is regarded as the “Father of Indian Modern Art” of contemporary Indian painting. He is known for painting the beauty of Indian culture white, using European techniques to achieve that, making it a beautiful, serene view for individuals to watch. His passion for his work and the exquisite paintings have kept individuals in awe even today, enhancing his qualities as one of the best in our nation. He was even criticised for liking the European market, but many people mistook him, as he only took inspiration from European techniques. Let’s dive into the ocean of beautiful and crafty paintings made by Raja Ravi Varma.
Shakuntala
Shakuntala is regarded as Raja Ravi Varma’s most well-known creation. This incident is taken from the Indian mythology Mahabharat, where Shakuntala’s lover, King Dushyanta, sends her a letter. Shakuntala is completely lost in thought as she thinks about her lover. The emotional depth of the painting, with the use of vibrant colours and a realistic approach, makes this a masterpiece. Raja Ravi Varma can thoroughly grasp the Indian culture and our sentiments in this painting. Hence, this is considered an Indian art masterpiece all around the globe.
The Milkmaid
The Milkmaid shows Raja Ravi Varma’s range and versatility. The European technique heavily inspired this painting, and it does not disappoint. The articulate details of the paintings, especially the flow of the woman’s sari, outshines many other paintings. The lighting and shadow play on the face of the protagonist of the painting, increasing the realistic charm and value. What makes this art piece timeless is the futuristic technique used to keep the Indian values tacked in and portray how women of that time were.
Damayanti
The incident is taken from one episode of the Indian Mythology, Mahabharat. The painting portrays the beautiful and intelligent princess Damayanti. The story goes four individuals are looking out to marry her, all being one better than the other, but Damyanti is able to find her husband, King Nala, from the four individuals. This depicts the Indian woman’s value of the time dedicated and devoted to their loved ones and family. Like Raja Ravi Varma’s other paintings, this was also heavily liked because of its realistic approach and use of vibrant colours to paint it.
Galaxy of Musicians
Celebrating the rich musical history of India, the painting Galaxy of Musicians showcases a group of female musicians performing together. All the women sitting in traditional clothes come from different parts and religions of India, showcasing our diversity and culture as they sit together and perform their hearts out for the audience, keeping their music as the top priority. The work is renowned for accurately depicting the human form, vivid colour scheme, and impeccable attention to detail. It is regarded as a masterwork of Indian painting and a symbol of the richness of Indian culture.
Hamsa Damayanti
Hamsa Damyanti is an oil painting created by Raja Ravi Varma in 1899; it portrays the romance between Damyanti and Nala. The story goes that after learning about one other’s noble qualities, wisdom, and beauty, Damayanti and King Nala fell in love. They communicate through a golden swan that serves as a messenger. They are holding hands and giving each other adoring, passionate looks. The artwork is considered a masterpiece because of its realistic portrayal and the ability to convey the raw emotions of pure love.
There Comes Papa
There Comes Papa was painted in 1893. The picture depicts Mahaprabha Thampuratty, the daughter of Varma, and Marthanda Varma, his grandson, staring leftward at an advancing father. The kids are portrayed as happy and excited, anticipating their father’s homecoming. The realistic approach is because of the vibrant colours, the character’s genuine emotion even through painting, and the social norms and values we follow as a country are clearly shown through the painting.
Parsi Beauty
It was well known that Parsis, or Zoroastrians, were among Raja Ravi Varma’s sponsors. “Parsi Beauty,” a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, demonstrates the artist’s skill at capturing the grace and beauty of women from many backgrounds. Raja Ravi Varma is known for his paintings depicting women from various backgrounds from different parts of the country, making it a serene view of art created by the extraordinary painter.
In 1873, he was exhibited in Vienna, where he won 3 awards, making him the first Indian individual to achieve this feat. Raja Ravi Varma, with his vast knowledge of the Europen style and paintings from different parts of India, has been praised worldwide with great intent, and his legacy still carries on. His talent is timeless and unparalleled, something few individuals are now starting to forget. His beautiful paintings cannot be listed on a list; this much aura he contains, and as time passes, we will remember what a great artist Mr. Raja Ravi Varma was!
