Female figure from Rajasthan, 11th Century. London, British Museum.
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Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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Rajasthan, one of the Rajput states in western North India, managed to steer its artistic tastes away from the classical revivals being undertaken elsewhere in India during the medieval period and to concentrate on its folk-art traditions, at least insofar as they were straightforward and powerful and appealed to the artistic intellect rather than to the emotions. Rhythm, sensuality and fully three-dimensional handling took over the main characteristics of relief works and free-standing sculpture as well, with respect to the first two features. Occasionally, these interests were not always served to the best advantage. The illustration of a female figure in our slide is one example of the degree to which sensuality overbears on a tasteful feeling of feminine beauty, for the figure is awkwardly posed and out of proportion. Where once beautiful curves conveyed the highest manifestation of musical rhythm, only exaggerated forms are now visible: for example, the torso, although sinuously modeled, is not appealing because the graceful sway is not carried through in the legs.
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Basham Collection
Date created
circa 1970s
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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