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 religious art

Rectangular shaped calendar print depicting a bearded male wearing a dhoti and top knot in his dark brown hair. To the left and behind the male is a woman carrying an unclothed baby in her arms. She is reaching out to him with the child while he has his right arm extended out to block her and his left arm held up against his diverted eyes and turned head. Both stand in lush green landscape, pond with swans in back- ground. Woman dressed in white cloth wrap with yellow borders; long dark brown hair; she looks at male with a tilted head. Illustration entitled "the fall"; yellow label on upper left states "with the compliments of the Lakshmi Mills Co. Ltd.". Illustration surrounded by light yellow border; unevenly cut edges.