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Ajanta: Cave 2, Painting with kneeling woman

Date

Authors

Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham

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Volume Title

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Abstract

Description

The true appeal of Cave 2 painting techniques is found in their clarity, which, if distinguishable from the sparse fragments we have today, must have been more impressive in the original state, Stage-like settings are commonly employed in these murals, the present one is an excellent example for this, and while space is not complicated, it is convincing, Shown here is a detail of a porch with kneeling women beneath the enclosed portion, Some of the figures seem to be actually looking over their imaginary railing to the real space of the shrine in which the spectator stands, This motif fits in rather well with the major subjects of the murals, the procession, These women appear to be watching the real procession of the faithful into the shrine proper, The figures with their large areas of light colors and sharp modeling at the edges are clearly differentiated from each other: each figure stands out individually without destroying the harmony of the composition as a whole,

Citation

Source

Type

Archives Series

Basham Collection

Date created

circa 1970s

Access Statement

License Rights

This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.

DOI

Restricted until

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