Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906) is widely recognised as a pioneering figure in modern Indian art. Born into an aristocratic family in Kilimanoor, Travancore (present-day Kerala), he was trained in both traditional Indian art and European academic painting techniques. His ability to combine Western realism with Indian themes led to widespread acclaim and he was commissioned by royal patrons across India. Ravi Varma’s depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses, inspired by epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, presented divine figures in a relatable, humanised style that became widely influential.

In 1894, Ravi Varma founded India’s first chromolithographic press in Bombay. Using advanced German printing technology, he reproduced his paintings as oleographs – vibrant lithographic prints varnished to resemble oil paintings. These prints were affordable and widely distributed, making Hindu imagery accessible at a time when temples were restricted based on caste and gender. Ravi Varma sold the press in 1901; however, it continued to operate as the Ravi Varma Press, printing the artist’s images – and those of other artists who worked alongside him – long after Ravi Varma’s death.

Many of these prints were further embellished with hand-applied materials such as fabric, embroidery or sequins – part of their transformation into devotional objects in everyday homes and a practice that serves as an indication of the great love and affection in which they were held. In preparation for display at QAGOMA for 'The God of Small Things' (2025–26), these complex artworks have undergone conservation treatment to clean and repair elements of the works while also honouring their history.

Feature image: Raja Ravi Varma's Laxmi (detail) 1894, printed by the Ravi Varma Press c.1910–20, garlanded with flowers for the official opening of 'The God of Small Things', QAG, September 2025 / Photograph: N Umek, QAGOMA