Id & date huge silk Batik

Discussion in 'Art' started by Gianluca72, Oct 12, 2018.

  1. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    Hi everyone

    within a large batch of paintings, prints, drawings, there are two beautiful Batik.

    The canvas seems to me silk, but I can be wrong.

    For the moment I suggest you the first of the two, then if you are interested, I will also send you the second one :)

    They are huge: they measure:

    106 x 77 cm with the frame

    102 x 74 cm the canvas, including the one not visible

    90 x 61 cm the visible canvas

    I had some difficulties with the photos, given the size, and because of the front glass.

    On the back there is no protection, you can directly touch the canvas and you can see the reverse of the painting.

    I would like to know the meaning of the illustrated representation, the provenance, and be able to attribute a dating to it.

    Also a coffee? Sure ! :)

    Sorry if I ask too much

    Thank you all for your help

    @Any Jewelry i think that this is your field :)

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    Last edited: Oct 12, 2018
    i need help and Any Jewelry like this.
  2. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

  3. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I'll have a herbal tea, thank you.:playful: Some dark chocolate if you have it, too.:hilarious:

    Very nice, Gian.:) They are not batik, both are handpainted, probably on cotton.
    The first one was probably made in Rajasthan, NW India. It doesn't look like it has much age. The second one looks older, but it is difficult to see.

    Both are of Lord Krishna, a very popular avatar of Hindu God Vishnu. He is the blue fellow, and the cow is a symbol of the job as a govinda or cowherd during his youth.
    He is surrounded by the Gopis or cowgirls. He used to sing and dance with the girls, flirting and seducing, and this is a favourite scene with followers of Krishna.
    The peacock, with its colourful display to attract a mate, refers to his romantic nature.

    Batik is rarely found in India, it is of Indonesian origin.
    Batik is when you paint a design with hot wax and dip the fabric in dye to colour it. The process is repeated for different colours, starting with the lightest and progressing to the darkest.
    During the process the wax cracks, and dye seeps through. When a batik cloth is finished, you see those cracks as irregular lines of darker dye in the lighter coloured areas. That is how you recognize a batik, the irregular cracks, and the dye is in the fabric, not like paint on top of the fabric.
    This is a very simple one colour bath batik design which shows the cracking best, it can be more difficult to see in more intricate designs:
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  4. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    As I am up early, I thought I might beat Any Jewelry - but she sniped me!

    It is a pichavai (pichhwai), to be hung in a Hindu temple. They illustrate scenes from the life of Krishna. This one shows the story of Krishna and the Gopi maidens (milk maids). Made in India. Typically painted on cotton cloth (not silk).
    Wikipedia has a good article on them:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pichhwai
     
  5. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I agree they are related to the pichhwai, cloth hangings. But I don't think these were ever pichhwai, but rather made in the style of pichhwai, and sold framed as a very nice souvenir. They probably never saw the inside of a temple.
     
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  6. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    Thanks a lot, but these are not 2 it's one only, what you have seen is front and back of the same item :)
    The second one I didn't post yet

    ""I'll have a herbal tea, thank you.:playful: Some dark chocolate if you have it, too.:hilarious:"
    All is ready, you can come when you want :happy:
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    :bag::hilarious: That is why it was so difficult to make out the style and age of the second one. And I didn't know a region where Krishna-worshippers painted Krishna and the gopis with monkey faces.:playful::hilarious:
     
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  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    AJ is a little devil, she is.:playful:
    Between us we have most time zones covered, we just need someone for this subject in the Pacific, Oz maybe.:D Audragon from Oz is doing his part for Thai art.
     
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  9. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    @Any Jewelry

    i've prepared even the secon one .

    Here's the related photos .

    Please let me know what do you think about it

    Same measures of the other

    Thanks :)

    FRONT

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    Last edited: Oct 12, 2018
  10. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

  11. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    So glad you added that, you know how easily I get confused.:D

    Yes, it is similar, and very nice as well. Probably a bit earlier, but not significantly. Again, Krishna having a party with the gopis.
    That gold line on his cheek is meant to be a flute, he was a great flute player. He is standing on a lotus throne, which means he is a divinity. He is an avatar (manifestation) of Vishnu, but is often regarded as a God in his own right.
     
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  12. Gianluca72

    Gianluca72 Well-Known Member

    Thanks a lot, you're great :)
     
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  13. AuDragon

    AuDragon Well-Known Member

    It's 7.00 here in Sydney so I'll need more than herbal tea. Yum! The coffee has arrived. :) I agree with AJ they are not batik and probably painted on fine cotton as I can't see the weave of linen. Did we discount them being painted on silk? Sorry I can't add more to the discussion.
     
  14. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    That's what I have the chocolate for, it also sets the wheels in motion.:)
    Not just for me, apparently:
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