A Zemindar or farmer of the upper provinces and a Puthan, a famous wrestler

1844

Later hand-coloured tinted lithograph on paper

Print size: 16 x 12.25 in (40.5 x 31.2 cm)
Sheet size: 16.75 x 12.5 in (42.2 x 31.5 cm)
With Mount: 23 x 19 in (58.5 x 48 cm)

This print is a striking visual representation from Emily Eden's series Portraits of the Princes and People of India. This lithograph captures two distinct figures: a zemindar (landholder) dressed in his winter attire and a Puthan (Pathan), a Muslim man of Afghan descent renowned for his wrestling prowess.

India's upper provinces depict the zamindar as a symbol of rural stability and respectability. His attire reflects the climate and socio-economic status of a landholder in northern India. The Pathan wrestler, with his robust build and commanding presence, signifies physical strength and martial traditions. These portraits are not only artistic but also ethnographic, offering insights into the diversity of Indian society during the 19th century.

Emily Eden (1797 - 1869)
Known for her amusing accounts of English life in the 19th century, Eden was a reputed poet and artist from London. Born into a family of aristocrats, she was acquainted with British political affairs and life from a young age.

Eden and her sister Fanny, accompanied their brother George (Lord Auckland) on his appointment as Governor-General to India in 1836, spending several years exploring the subcontinent. During this time, she documented the personalities she encountered and occasions she witnessed through a series of richly detailed sketches. From portraits of Indian aristocrats and the working class to depictions of royal ceremonies and major political events, her sketches serve both as a personal and historical memoir of colonial India. In 1844, a few years after her return to England, these drawings were published as a set of monochrome and hand-painted lithographs known as Portraits of the People and Princes of India.

Eden documented her life and observations in India through a series of delightfully written letters to her sister, which later became the travel books Up the Country and Letters from India. She is also known for her novels The Semi-detached House and The Semi-attached Couple.

This lot 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.