Asoka's Queen

Catalog note / 解説

The scene depicts the graceful figure of Asoka's Queen standing in front of the railings of the Buddhist monument at Sanchi built during the reign of her husband King Asoka. The print is based on an original painting held in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951) was the pioneer and leading exponent of the Bengal School of Art. In his paintings, he sought to counter the influence of Western art as taught in art schools under the British Raj, by modernizing indigenous Moghul and Rajput traditions. His work became so influential that it was eventually accepted and regarded as a national Indian style. Materials: Chromoxylograph, reproduction of a watercolour