Vishnu on Garuda, Ravi Varma Press, c. 1910's
Ok, we're right in the middle of Art, Crafts & Collections month, so it's the perfect time to introduce you to a unique couple with an obsession for Indian "God prints" — Indian prints of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Mark Baron and Elise Boisanté became hooked on their first trip to India.
"...They were everywhere. Although at first we knew nothing about them, little by little, as we noticed differences in style and printing technique, we began to figure out which were newer, older, and older still. For us the oldest were the most beautiful. We desperately wanted to find a beautiful old print of Lakshmi, and of Ganesh, that we could hang in our home. That’s how it began."
Indian God prints date back to the late 1800's, when the printing industry sprang up there and prints were made by inking limestone blocks. Mark and Elise's collection now consists of over 400 prints, most of which are from the 1880's to the 1920's, but they also have some of the "best of the 1930's and early 1940's."
Three quarters of their collection is for sale (to fund their yearly trips back to India), prices range from $30 to $2,000 with most between $100 and $400, and they have a great website and fine catalog (which they'll send only if you're really serious), but you have to come see them in person to buy a print.
I urge you to take a look and check them out in NYC if this peaks your interest. As far as compelling collecting stories go, this is a great one. Enjoy!
| Location: |
421 Hudson Street
New York,
NY
10014
|
|---|---|
| Phone: |
212-924-9940
|
| Website: | OmfromIndia.com |
| Categories: | traditional, vintage, artwork |
|---|
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I have a print like the one shown behind curry stand, and I absolutely love it. The colors are vibrant but not glaring. Its full of light blues, pinks, reds, and golds, and it really pops for all the right reasons.
view Jose A's profile
Haha....on second view the print is exactly the one that is to the left of the curry vendor!! Small world.
view Jose A's profile
While the prints above are beautiful, as a Hindu I have to object to the idea of people displaying these images in their home. These images, while they may seem kitschy or exotic to many here in the west, are powerful images of Hindu GODS! These images are supposed to be scared, and actually mean something to millions of Hindus worldwide. To take these images and display them as art in your home is offensive, and disrespectful to the people who actually use these images for worship. I'm not a religious person at ALL, but I do appreciate that religion is meaningful to people, and I do find that the commodification of these images offensive.
view lila's profile
I appreciate that religion is meaningful to some people, but it isn't to me. If something is going to look great as art in my apartment I'm not going to be restrained by the idea that someone could be offended.
Who can say that applying a religious connotation is any more valid than an aesthetic one?
view tarsengreen's profile
love those prints... so beautiful!
view pseudodesigns's profile
We don't complain if we find a velvet painting of the Last Supper in India, or a Madonna in Japan. Get over it.
view LBhirise's profile
someday in the future I will complete my transformation into the huge hippie I'm intended to be, and I'll totally have one of these in my home. maybe even in my future home that has a yoga room... its inevitable.
view FromTheFuture's profile
We love these prints and we're so happy to know they're bringing the same joy to others as they've brought to us. Don't worry Lila, these prints are finding their way into appreciative hands, some have gone to the Kali Mandir, a Kali temple in Laguna Beach, some to the SRF Temple & Ashram Center, some will hang in a new Cafe which the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is about to open in the East Village, we understand that these are not just images of gods, they are gods-gods incarnate in their printed image. Best, Mark, Om from India
view Mark Baron's profile
@lila:
I am not a Hindu, but I have to say that this struck me as oddly disrespectful, knowing what very little bit I do know about this religion, basically, only gleaned from an appreciation of things like, for example, the Gayatri Mantra, and the profound meaning attached to it. IMHO, there is a tendency to trivialize non Judeo-Christian traditions.
view muirwoods08's profile
to answer muirwoods08, we do have great respect for these prints. As for those who see them as art, speaking for myself, I consider all of the art that I love to be spiritual. I can't define this spirituality other than to say that the art I love has a great power that comes from the heart. For Hindus coming from the heart means a manifestation of the divine. If you were to tell a Hindu Sadhu (holy person) that you are looking for god they would very likely tell you that you only need to look into your heart. For Hindus everything is a part of lila, the divine play. I wonder if Lila, who posted a comment, knows her name means the play, or sort of cosmic dance which is the world. According to Vedanta lila is the abundance of the Supreme Being's bliss, and so the world originates from bliss, so please, try to stop worrying about this and enjoy
view Mark Baron's profile
As an Indian from a traditional Hindu family, I am surrounded by devout Hindus. And they all use religious images and idols as art. (Pictures and statues of Ganesha are the most popular.)
As this post says, you see these images everywhere. They are everywhere even in New Delhi homes - in the living rooms, dining roooms, bedrooms, etc. They are certainly not being worshipped all the time!
For many people this is the only "art" they know of or appreciate. It serves a dual purpose: they get the blessings of the gods as they go about their daily routines, and their lives get some added colour.
Why object if a non-Hindu does the same?
view sunnycloudy's profile
at least the imagery is inclusive
(religious...in this case, especially, or at least, as shown in these older prints, full of grace, and tender).
is that so bad?
view pinkorangered's profile