Drawing

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.

Popular secular art

Rectangular drawing consisting of a smudged, beige paper with rough pencil-drawn sketches of human faces and bodies on both sides. On one side depicts a seated male and female on the right. Male carries bow over shoulder on right, has hair in topknot, and faces print's left side. Female points with arm on left in that direction while looking at male. Heads of three other females and artist's signature, ‘K. Madhavan’, are present on print's left half. On other side there are eleven faces, male and female, some overlapping, each with different facial expressions, and dark to light shading.