Featured large Orientalist ? watercolour

hi friends

something i found in an antiquey type shop today. was surprised at the price

im hoping its orientalist but not sure, does look old enough, has that lovely blue sky

signed in intials in bottom corner

quite large for a watercolour 14 inches by 10

any help on location would be great, or any thoughts on painting appreciated

think its the nicest one ive had so far

 

Don't think you could call it "Orientalist" because it depicts the real thing, not a romanticized idea of "the Orient." A nice little pre-partition India landscape by what I would think was a talented amateur. (Her figures aren't fully accomplished.)

Debora

 

The piano dealership opened in 1883 and per this was engaged in framing by the early 20th century.

Debora

 

"Aren't fully accomplished," and become less so the more I look. But it is a charming scene; one wants to know where the people are going, and what the children (and the donkey) are carrying.

 

Brilliant and wonderfully helpful as always, thanks deb

 

Someone may be able to identify the village depicted in the scene.

Debora

 

That close up pic is such a bad representation of the piece

The figures are tiny, and that is zoomed right in

 

They look immobile and posed, even the donkey. And do you see how many are observing their observer, the artist? That's unusual.

Debora

 

The donkey looks wary of the dog who's squaring up

 

I think charlie's charming watercolour is of a city or fortress. Indian/Pakistani villages don't have city walls or gates.

Orientalist painters are Western artists who painted 'the Orient'. Some of them had a romantic view of what they perceived to be Oriental subject, but many actually travelled and painted what they saw.
Like my favourite Dutch Orientalist artist Marius Bauer who made this etching, "A Bazaar in Damascus":



Marius Bauer travelled in North Africa, Western and Southern Asia and Southeast Asia (Indonesia). He sketched and painted what he saw through Western eyes and using Western techniques, but never romanticised or eroticised what he saw.

 

Marvellous info, thanks Aj. I'm glad you like it

Charlie 1 antiques shop 0

 

Yay!!!