Bali
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Bali is a 1890 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting Kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
You see a busy street in Bali: palm trees, thatched roofs, people in bright sarongs carrying baskets on their heads. The painting feels loose and quick, like the artist was sketching on the spot. But it’s from around 1890, when most European artists still painted carefully in studios. This one looks like it was done outside, under real sunlight. If you like how light plays in this scene, look up Impressionism.
This watercolour and tin alloy painting on paper depicts the death of Bali, the king of Kishkindha, from the Ramayana narrative. Created around 1890, it reflects the Kalighat style, characterized by vivid colours, simplified forms, and quick brushwork. The work is part of a broader tradition of Bengali artists who, from the 1830s onward, produced paintings blending local mythology and colonial-era themes in Calcutta. The piece is situated within the historical context of British India’s capital during that period.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
