Calendar

Indian popular religious prints have been published for nearly a century, first by German presses, later by Indian ones. The prints may take the form of calendars, posters, or simply images. The style of the representations is European. In the beginning they were Hindu images, but are now acquiring elements both of folk art and a romantic secularism. It is a living art currently influenced by the movie industry and non-Hindu religions. The images are a vehicle for advertising and are also used for religious purposes.

calendar art; popular secular art.

Square calendar print depicting a dark haired female in a sleeveless, short red dress and yellow feather hat. Female is framed by two hexagonal-like bands; one white, the other dark blue. Female is in a leaning position: weight of body transferred onto hand on left, which rests on imaginary object while hand on right rests on hip. Only head to knees shown. Prancing black-line drawn reindeer decal in upper right with "Venus" in white bordered black block letters, arranged vertically underneath. "Banians" in dark blue-green, "Venus Banians" with address reiterated in same colours at base of image. Light blue background; mat finish over all