SUNLIGHT SOAP
Lithograph on Paper
Circa
1940
Size (cms)
35.4 X 51
Artist
Chitrashala, Dehradun
Chitrashala, Dehradun, refers to a notable series of paintings created by Roop Kishore Kapoor and Kalicharan from the late 1930s onward. While primarily featuring divine and religious imagery, these artworks subtly conveyed nationalist sentiments, allowing them to evade strict censorship of the time. The Chitrashala Kanpur and Chitrashala Dehradun collections included significant works such as “Sudarshan Chakra” and “Mahamaya Shakti.” Roop Kishore Kapoor, in particular, gained recognition for his nationalist-themed art, depicting iconic figures like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad. His creations served as a bridge between explicitly political expression and spiritually inspired visual narratives.
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Publisher
Lever Brothers Ltd. (India)
Printer
Brijbasi F.A.L. Works, Mathura, India
More Info
The poster depicts Hans Damayanti from the Sanskrit epic Nala and Damayanti. Damayanti, dressed in traditional attire with a red skirt, red blouse, and blue-white dupatta, is shown leaning against a pillar and gazing at a white swan (Hansa), the messenger of her love for King Nala. The scene is set in a palace garden with lush greenery in the background. The advertisement of Sunlight Soap is super imposed on the main print.
Lever Brothers arrived in Kolkata in 1888, launching Sunlight Detergent Soap, embossed with “Made in England,” marking the start of branded FMCG in India. Their operations expanded with the establishment of Hindustan Vanaspati Manufacturing Company in 1931, Lever Brothers Ltd. in 1933, and United Traders Ltd. in 1935. These entities merged in 1956 to form Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL).
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