Lithographic Print with Varnish | Pune, Maharashtra, 1894–99
Key Features
Gauri: Tenderness Embodied
This late-19th-century devotional print presents Gauri, the gentle and auspicious form of Parvati, consort of Shiva. Unlike fierce or overtly cosmic depictions of the goddess, Gauri appears here as a serene young woman-graceful, composed, and intimate. Her divinity is conveyed subtly, through a radiant halo and jeweled crown, while her expression and posture remain unmistakably human.
The Goddess as the Ideal Bride
This image deliberately blurs the boundary between mortal and divine. Gauri’s portrait-like realism evokes the appearance of a bride prepared for her wedding-adorned with jewelry, silk garments, and quiet dignity. Such imagery resonated deeply with household devotion in late colonial India, allowing worshippers to perceive the goddess not as distant and transcendent, but as lovingly present within everyday life.
Ravi Varma Press and Popular Devotion
Printed at the renowned Ravi Varma Press, Karla–Lonavla, this work belongs to the golden age of Indian lithography. The lower register records the goddess’s name in Devanagari script alongside the press details in both English and Hindi, reflecting the bilingual, pan-Indian reach of devotional prints at the time. Marked “Registered No. 95,” the image also speaks to early-ultimately ineffective-attempts at copyright protection in 19th-century India.
Lithographic Elegance with Varnish
Executed as a lithograph with varnish, the print achieves luminous skin tones, jewel-like colors, and a soft surface sheen. The technique enhanced durability while lending the image a refined, almost painterly finish-ideal for domestic shrines and framed display.
18 × 24 in Archival Poster
This 18 × 24 inch poster is a faithful reproduction of the original print, produced on 350 GSM museum-grade matte archival paper. It preserves the warmth of color, delicacy of line, and devotional intimacy of the original lithograph.
Why You’ll Love It
This artwork captures a rare moment where divinity feels profoundly personal. Gauri’s calm gaze and human beauty invite contemplation on grace, femininity, and auspicious beginnings. Perfect for prayer rooms, bedrooms, or heritage-inspired interiors, this poster celebrates the goddess not through power, but through presence.
Order Now
Bring home a timeless example of late-19th-century Indian devotional art-where goddess and bride become one.
Available in 18 × 24 inches, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.