Man Dyeing Cloth
1834
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1834
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A man squats on the ground, dyeing long strips of cloth in small clay pots. He wears loose pants and a turban, his face calm and focused. This painting was made for British traders in India, not for art galleries. The artists were paid to show "exotic" scenes—simple tools, bare feet, bright colors—so merchants back home could imagine life far away. Look up more paintings tagged Company School to see how these artists pictured daily work.
