{"product_id":"ravi-varma-standing-lakshmi-oleograph-malavli-press","title":"Vintage Raja Ravi Varma Lakshmi Oleograph | Malavli Press | Indian Devotional Art","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA vintage \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRaja Ravi Varma oleograph depicting Lakshmi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, abundance, and auspiciousness. Printed by the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMalavli Press\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this oleograph presents Lakshmi in the naturalistic style that made Ravi Varma's mythological imagery among the most recognisable forms of Indian devotional art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLakshmi is shown standing in a graceful, frontal composition, richly dressed and adorned with jewellery. Her composed expression, elaborate costume, ornaments, and carefully modelled figure reflect Ravi Varma's distinctive approach to representing Hindu deities through the conventions of European academic painting while retaining recognisable elements of Indian iconography.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe image is particularly notable for its treatment of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLakshmi as a standing goddess\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a form that became highly influential through the circulation of Ravi Varma's paintings and prints. The goddess is traditionally associated with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewealth, prosperity, fertility, beauty, good fortune, and abundance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and images of Lakshmi have long occupied an important place in Indian domestic and devotional spaces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLakshmi in Hindu Tradition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLakshmi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, also known as Shri, is the goddess of prosperity and abundance and is traditionally regarded as the consort of Vishnu. She represents not simply material wealth but the broader idea of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eauspiciousness, well-being, fertility, beauty and flourishing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLakshmi is frequently depicted standing or seated upon a lotus. The \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003elotus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an important attribute in her iconography, symbolising purity, beauty and spiritual unfolding. The goddess is also commonly associated with water, fertility, elephants, coins and overflowing vessels, all of which reinforce the idea of abundance and prosperity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHer imagery became particularly widespread in domestic India, where representations of Lakshmi were displayed in homes and commercial establishments as auspicious images associated with prosperity and good fortune.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRaja Ravi Varma and Lakshmi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRaja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e played a pivotal role in shaping the modern visual representation of Hindu deities. His training in European academic painting led him to introduce naturalistic modelling, realistic drapery, three-dimensional figures and carefully rendered faces into compositions based on Indian mythology.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHis images of Hindu gods and goddesses subsequently reached an enormous audience through the development of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecolour oleographic printing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The establishment of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRavi Varma Press in Bombay in 1894\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e enabled his paintings to be reproduced and circulated widely, bringing mythological imagery into Indian homes on an unprecedented scale.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLakshmi was particularly suited to this new print culture. Her associations with prosperity and auspiciousness made images of the goddess popular as both devotional objects and household images.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMalavli Press\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis oleograph bears the association of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMalavli Press\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, an important name in the history of early Indian colour printing and the wider circulation of Ravi Varma imagery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Malavli Press was established by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRaja Ravi Varma at Malavli, near Lonavala\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, before the operations associated with his better-known Ravi Varma Press in Bombay. The history of these presses forms an important part of the development of colour printing in India and the mass circulation of Ravi Varma's mythological imagery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtist:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStanding Lakshmi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Oleograph \/ colour lithographic print\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePress:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Malavli Press\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubject:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Goddess Lakshmi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGenre:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Indian devotional and mythological art\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmbellishment:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Unembellished\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Vintage condition with age-related characteristics to the print and frame. The original wooden frame is retained. The original glass has been replaced with acrylic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Blue Trunk","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52239925018922,"sku":null,"price":14500.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0677\/6297\/9114\/files\/raja-ravi-varma-standing-lakshmi-malavli-press-oleograph.png?v=1786457202","url":"https:\/\/www.thebluetrunk.in\/products\/ravi-varma-standing-lakshmi-oleograph-malavli-press","provider":"The Blue Trunk","version":"1.0","type":"link"}