While the Asia Society and Museum features some of the best art exhibits in the city, this month the museum will proudly feature a one-of-a-kind exhibit, Princes and Painters in Muhgal Dehli, 1707-1857. This outstanding exhibit showcases pieces from the city of Dehli's transitional artistic period when artists of the area were flouting between creating art for Mohgal princes and the city's newest residents of that time: The British.
According to Asia Society Museum Director Melissa Chiu, it is a frequent assumption that no great art existed during this time, as artists bore immense criticism and discrimination from emperors. This misconception has been visually disproven by the museum's recent exhibit; artists and art critics are now recognizing the impact of the areas culturally influenced paintings.
Labeled as a great "hybrid" for Indian art, the historical changes in Dehli's court--specifically regarding influencing parties--was a motivator for painters. The change of Mughal control to British control is easily recognized in the paintings.
The exhibit includes the following pieces:
- Seat of the Kingdom
- Decline of Power, Pursuit of Pleasure, Muhammad Shah, 1719-1748
- Emperors and White Mughals
- The Last Atelier: Ghulam Ali Khan
- Zafar and the Uprising of 1857
- Design of Delhi: Edwin Lutyens
- Tashrih al-aqvam album
The exhibit at the Asia Society and Museum is available for viewing from February 7 to May 6.
