Raja Ravi Varma's oleograph depicting the Sita Swayamvar is a vivid portrayal of a pivotal moment from the Ramayana. At the heart of the composition, Rama is depicted in a heroic stance, engaged in the act of attempting to string the bow. The composition captures the precise moment when the bow breaks into two pieces. This moment symbolizes Rama's strength and divine prowess, crucial for winning Sita's hand in marriage.
Alongside Rama stands a sage, Vishwamitra, who plays a significant role in the epic. In the background of the scene, positioned atop the stairs leading to the fort's gate, King Janaka is depicted with his wife and daughter Sita. They observe the proceedings with a mix of anticipation and pride, aware of the significance of this moment for their family and the kingdom.
The composition is teeming with a diverse audience, each adorned in opulent attire, emphasizing the grandeur and significance of the occasion. Varma's mastery lies in his ability to capture not only the physical details but also the emotional and cultural essence of the narrative, making the oleograph a powerful visual narrative of a cherished mythological tale.
Varma's oleograph not only captures the visual spectacle of the event but also conveys the emotional intensity and cultural significance of the Sita Swayamvar, blending mythological narrative with artistic skill to create a timeless portrayal of Hindu mythology.
This is a limited edition capsule collection of original oleographs/ chromo lithographs from the 1920's and 1930's created at the original Raja Ravi Verma Printing Press. This collection of paintings was originally made by Raja Ravi Verma and artists like CS Ramanujam. The oleographs are embellished with original delicate Japanese paper silk and Zari work in real gold and silver which was done by artists in the same period. These oleopgraphs were created in limited numbers and thus each artwork is limited to only 1 in availability with us. Varma used oleographs on paper, a type of lithography that uses oil paints on paper to make his work available to the masses. He eventually sold the press to one of the Germans. The stone-printing procedure allows exact brushstrokes and patterns to be replicated on a large scale with multitudes of tones and diverse colour palette.
This Oleogrpraph produced in Circa 1920-25 by Ravi Varma Pres , Karla Lonavalla.
