CIBA
Lithograph on Paper
Circa
1949
Size (cms)
49.5 X 70.5
Artist
Raja Ravi Varma - Active
Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906) was a celebrated Indian painter known for blending European academic art techniques with Indian subjects, making classical Indian art accessible to the masses. Born into an aristocratic family in Kerala, Varma mastered oil painting and is renowned for his depictions of scenes from Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. He often portrayed Indian gods, goddesses, and historical figures with lifelike realism, drawing inspiration from traditional Indian aesthetics and the techniques of Western realism. His works not only influenced Indian art but also popularized mythological characters across the country, partly due to his pioneering efforts in lithography, which made his paintings widely available as prints.
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Publisher
Ciba Dyes Limited, Basle, Switzerland.
Printer
Ravi Varma Press, Malavli, G.I.P.- Active
More Info
This calendar adapted by Raja Ravi Varma's painting "Lakshmi" and printed by the Raja Ravi Varma Press in Malavli, GIP, features the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi standing on a lotus in a pond. Dressed in a red saree and adorned with jewelry, she holds lotuses in her hands, surrounded by lush greenery and accompanied by a white elephant. Smaller images, likely representing the company’s logo or brand, are displayed on the sides of the calendar.
Ciba Dyes Pvt. Ltd., founded in India in 1928, specialized in the distribution of dyestuffs and pharmaceuticals. Over the years, the company evolved and was renamed Ciba of India Ltd. It later became part of the global demerger of the specialty chemicals division from Ciba-Geigy Limited, based in Switzerland. Ciba India played a significant role in the Indian chemicals industry, particularly in supplying dyes, and made notable contributions to the growth of both the textile and pharmaceutical sectors.
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