Holi: A Vibrant Celebration of Colors
Celebrated during the spring full moon, the Hindu festival of Holi is a joyous occasion that marks the arrival of Spring. This lively festival of...
Maya M. Tola 7 September 2023
#India
Miniature Paintings of the Mughal Empire
The Mughals descended from a lineage of formidable conquerors such as Genghis Khan and Amir Timur. They were themselves the most dominant force in...
Maya M. Tola 7 September 2023
The Decline of Mughal Arts under Aurangzeb
Muḥī al-Dīn Muḥammad was the sixth man to ascend to the Mughal throne and the last of the strong Mughal rulers. He was a notable expansionist...
Maya M. Tola 7 September 2023
Modern Muse: Arpita Shah’s Feminist Take on Mughal Portraiture
Staging an intervention in art history, and specifically in Indian miniature portraiture, Arpita Shah replaces male Mughal emperors with inspiring...
Guest Profile 3 September 2023
Mughal Daggers: Art in Weaponry
During the 16th century, a captivating trend of ornate bejeweled blades emerged in the Near East and South Asia. They showcase the exquisite...
Maya M. Tola 28 August 2023
Jahangir’s Wine Cups: Mughal Decorative Arts
The Mughal Empire stands as one of history’s most opulent periods known to nurture a rich tapestry of art and architecture that offers a...
Maya M. Tola 14 August 2023
Mughal Gardens: Paradise on Earth
The Mughal regime is a well-documented era and the cultural achievements of this period are an important landmark in South Asian art history. While...
Maya M. Tola 24 July 2023
Six Exquisite Mother-of-Pearl Artifacts from Gujarat
Mother-of-Pearl is an iridescent layer carved out of snail shells, usually the Turbo Marmoratus. It is a luminous material that naturally reflects...
Maya M. Tola 5 July 2023
Nalini Malani – An Introduction
Nalini Malani, Listening to the Shades 7, 2008. Artist’s website. “Over an extended career, Malani has been an unremitting voice for...
Isla Phillips-Ewen 5 July 2023
The Ruins of Hampi in India
Near the banks of the Tungabhadra River in southern India are an ancient group of monuments known as the Hampi. These grand ruins were once part of a...
Maya M. Tola 5 July 2023
Seven Famous Modern Indian Printmakers
Indian printmaking traces its lineage from the narrative of the father of Indian modern art, Raja Ravi Varma, and his oleographs. Besides, Varma was...
Urvi Chheda 5 July 2023
Ardhanarishvara: Androgynous Portrayal of Shiva and Parvati
The composite form of Shiva and his consort, Shakti (another name for Parvati) is known as the Ardhanarishvara or the “God who is...
Maya M. Tola 27 April 2023
