Set of 4 Prints from Les Hindous

a) Dj'Haoundjery
Inscribed "Solvyns 1810" (lower left)
Hand-coloured etching on paper
Print size: 14 x 9.25 in (35.5 x 23.7 cm)
Sheet size: 17.25 x 12.5 in (43.7 x 32 cm)
With Mount: 23.1 x 18.5 in (58.7 x 47 cm)

Plate 23 from the 2nd Volume of Les Hindoûs, Paris: Chez L'Auteur, 1808-1812

b) Day
Inscribed "Solvyns 1810" (lower left)
Hand-coloured etching on paper
Print size: 14.25 x 9.25 in (36 x 23.7 cm)
Sheet size: 17.25 x 12.5 in (43.7 x 31.7 cm)
With Mount: 23.1 x 18.5 in (58.7 x 47 cm)

Plate 42 from the 4th Volume of Les Hindoûs, Paris: Chez L'Auteur, 1808-1812

c) Faqyr (Priant)
Inscribed "Solvyns 1810" (lower left)
Hand-coloured etching on paper
Print size: 14.25 x 9.25 in (36 x 23.7 cm)
Sheet size: 17.25 x 12.5 in (43.7 x 31.7 cm)
With Mount: 23.1 x 18.5 in (58.7 x 47 cm)

Plate 17 from the 2nd Volume of Les Hindoûs, Paris: Chez L'Auteur, 1808-1812

d) Femme en Grande Parure (Woman in Grand Attire)
Inscribed "Solvyns 1810" (lower left)
Hand-coloured etching on paper
Print size: 14.25 x 9.25 in (36 x 23.7 cm)
Sheet size: 17.25 x 12.5 in (43.7 x 31.7 cm)
With Mount: 23.1 x 18.5 in (58.7 x 47 cm)

Plate 15 from the 2nd Volume of Les Hindoûs, Paris: Chez L'Auteur, 1808-1812

Frans Balthazar Solvyns
Belgian marine artist Frans Balthazar Solvyns lived in Calcutta between 1791 and 1803 and is considered one of the earliest printmakers in India, besides Thomas Daniell. During his time in India, he documented 18th-century Indian culture and habitats, including the people, their occupations, festivals and religious customs.

Solvyns, residing in Calcutta from 1791 until 1803, produced a remarkable series of engravings depicting the people and culture he observed. First published in Calcutta in 1796 and 1799. Due to its lack of financial success, Solvyns left for Europe. Unfazed by his failure, he issued a second, expanded edition of Les Hindous in Paris in 1808–12 that was reorganised and consisted of four volumes, bilingual descriptive text in French and English, and a few extra plates for a total of 288.

Les Hindous, which explores an incredibly intimate and detailed portrait of a people at a specific historical moment, features members of every profession and social class in India. It also shows us festivals and sacred rites, animals, birds and insects, trees and crops, as well as all the different types of boats, carriages and musical instruments that were in common use at the time. Every individual and thing is viewed up close, by an educated and curious eye, and sometimes with humour, sometimes with a sombre grandeur.

The plates from the present lot are from the French edition of Les Hindous.

(Set of four)

These works will be shipped unframed

NON-EXPORTABLE

This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as reference for the condition of each lot.