SUNLIGHT SOAP
Lithograph on Paper
Circa
1935
Size (cms)
50 X 70.3
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
Lever Brothers Ltd. (India)
Printer
Ravi Varma Press, Karla - Lonavla.- Active
More Info
This calendar, inspired by Raja Ravi Varma's painting "Shesh Narayan," depicts Narayana as Maha-Vishnu, associated with the five-headed serpent Adiseshan. His domain is the Milky Ocean, where the coiled Adiseshan serves as his couch, its hoods providing protection like a canopy. Narayana is flanked by his two consorts, Sridevi and Bhu Devi. He holds a lotus and mace in his hands. The horizon divides the ocean and sky, with two bars of Sunlight Soap prominently featured at the bottom. Lever Brothers began exporting Sunlight Soap to Calcutta in 1888, marking its entry into the Indian market. The company later introduced Lifebuoy soap in 1895 and expanded with iconic brands such as Pears, Lux, and Vim. In 1937, they launched the Dalda brand and formally established Lever Brothers India Limited in 1933, marking a significant step in their expansion in India.
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