Exchange: Visual Narratives

Visual Narratives

The artist has captured the story of the deer hunt with the fewest possible elements, in a way that is instantly recognizable and yet takes liberties with the classical tale. The forest is represented by two trees and a few sprays of foliage; the deer is a mundane gray, not magical gold; and Sita waits anxiously in a white marble pavilion, rather than a thatched hut. The vibrantly colored backgrounds divide the composition into zones that create mood and organize the narrative.

Artist Unknown, India, Central India, Malwa School
Râmâyana manuscript page: Rama kills the deer (folio no. 31)
ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
7 3/8 in x 6 1/8 in (18.7 cm x 15.6 cm);19 5/16 in x 14 5/16 in (49.05 cm x 36.35 cm);7 3/8 in x 6 1/8 in (18.7 cm x 15.6 cm)
Gift of Mr. George P. Bickford for the James Marshall Plumer Memorial Collection

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An ivory rectangular snuff bottle with a painted black and white narrative scene on the front surface. There is an older man and a younger boy standing in front of a house and bamboo forest. On the ground surrounding them are plants and piles of rocks. Above them in the sky are clouds. The top of the snuff bottle, mouthpiece, stopper, and footing have red and white stripes or designs on them.

Chinese
Ivory snuff bottle with painted narrative scene
black and red paint on ivory
2 13/16 in. x 1 9/16 in. x 1/2 in. ( 7.2 cm x 4 cm x 1.3 cm )
Gift of Mr. Robert W. Coggan

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A lady and her lover are shown in the center-left of the scene, holding hands and gesturing. An attendant appears behind the lady, and the two turn to look at her. A male attendant, along with a horse, is shonw in the bottom register, separated from the precincts of the palace where the main scene takes place.

Artist Unknown, India, Rajasthan, Jaipur School
Ragamala series: Ragini Minavati
ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
10 7/8 in x 7 15/16 in (27.6 cm x 20.1 cm);10 7/8 in x 7 15/16 in (27.6 cm x 20.1 cm)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel and Dr. and Mrs. Steven J. Figiel.

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A woman stands in the center of the composition, with two peacocks shown on either side of her. She holds garlands and a flower in each of her hands. Monkeys and peacocks are seen in the trees, and two men appear near the top of a hill that frames the scene. They are pointing towards a pavilion located at the summit of the hill. Below the woman, lotuses and birds are depicted in the stream of water. The landscape is vibrant and abundant.

Artist Unknown, India, Rajasthan, Jaipur School
Ragamala series: Kukubha ragini
ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
10 7/8 in x 7 7/8 in (27.62 cm x 20 cm)
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel and Dr. and Mrs. Steven J. Figiel

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Honoré Victorin Daumier
Locataires et Propriétaires. Pl. 17: --Ah! ça mais.....arriverons nous bientot?.
lithograph on paper
9 11/16 in x 8 5/16 in (24.61 cm x 21.11 cm);14 1/4 in x 19 1/4 in (36.2 cm x 48.89 cm);9 1/2 in x 8 5/16 in (24.13 cm x 21.11 cm);13 15/16 in x 9 13/16 in (35.4 cm x 24.92 cm)
The Paul Leroy Grigaut Memorial Collection

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Honoré Victorin Daumier
Le juste milieu va bien, mais les affaires ne vont pas (Caricature politique, No
hand-colored lithograph on paper
10 3/8 in x 8 1/4 in (26.35 cm x 20.96 cm);14 1/4 in x 19 1/4 in (36.2 cm x 48.89 cm);10 in x 13 15/16 in (25.4 cm x 35.4 cm);7 1/2 in x 9 3/8 in (19.05 cm x 23.81 cm)
The Paul Leroy Grigaut Memorial Collection

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Honoré Victorin Daumier
Actualités. Pl. 229: Vous aurez beau faire, ma pauvre presse ultramontaine; vou
lithograph
9 1/2 in x 8 5/16 in (24.13 cm x 21.11 cm);9 1/2 in x 8 5/16 in (24.13 cm x 21.11 cm);11 15/16 in x 11 1/8 in (30.32 cm x 28.26 cm);14 1/4 in x 19 1/4 in (36.2 cm x 48.89 cm)
The Paul Leroy Grigaut Memorial Collection

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Among a gold and bright mineral pigmented landscape, Genji stands below a cherry tree in full bloom and watches Murasaki, who stands in an architectural structure. A distant stream and hilltops indicate the isolated setting.

Kanō Tsunenobu
Genji espies Murasaki for the first time, from the Wakamurasaki chapter of The Tale of Genji

ink, color, and gold pigment and foil on paper
45 1/16 in x 136 1/4 in (114.46 cm x 346.08 cm)
Museum Purchase made possible by the Friends of the Museum of Art

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William Baillie
Untitled
engraving on paper
10 3/16 in. x 8 11/16 in. ( 25.8 cm x 22 cm )
Gift of Colton Storm

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A photograph of two tin figures in a shallow plane, set against a dark, black backdrop. The small figure on the left stands facing the large figure on the right, as the figure on the left points her figure authoritatively.

David Levinthal
Eva and Topsy
photogravure on paper
17 11/16 in x 20 7/8 in (44.93 cm x 53.02 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

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A photograph of tin figures in a shallow plane, set against a black backdrop. A woman carries a child across a featureless landscape.

David Levinthal
Crossing the River
photogravure on paper
17 11/16 in x 20 7/8 in (44.93 cm x 53.02 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

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A photograph of two toy figures in a shallow plane, set against a black backdrop. The two figures kneel on the ground, flora made of the same tin material on either side of them. The figure on the left reaches out, touching the shoulder of the figure on the right.

David Levinthal
Bidding Farewell
photogravure on paper
17 11/16 in x 20 7/8 in (44.93 cm x 53.02 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

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