Artwork
Children swinging Sudder bazaar. Poona
Children swinging Sudder bazaar. Poona is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist William Carpenter. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Children swinging Sudder bazaar.
About this work
You see kids flying on a rope swing outside a busy market in Poona. The house behind them looks worn, but the kids are all smiles. Light cuts through shade, lighting up their clothes.
Carpenter painted this in 1850. It’s one of his early India scenes. He loved showing how people lived, right down to their clothes.
Check out more like this at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
Children swinging Sudder bazaar. Poona is a painting by William Carpenter, created in 1850. It depicts children at play outside a house in Pune's Sadr bazaar.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures everyday life in India, focusing on the local inhabitants and their activities. The painting shows children on a rope swing, highlighting their joy and carefree nature amidst a bustling market environment.
Technique & Style
Carpenter's work is characterized by attention to detail, particularly in the depiction of clothing and daily life. The painting showcases his ability to capture the interplay of light and shade, bringing the scene to life.
History & Provenance
William Carpenter, son of a British Museum curator and a portrait painter, arrived in Bombay in early 1850. He traveled extensively throughout India, painting portraits and landscapes, often adopting local attire. The painting is from his early period in India, before his return to England in 1856.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Carpenter (1818–1899) was an English watercolour artist. He travelled for six or seven years in the 1850s painting scenes of India, its people and its life. The Victoria and Albert Museum bought over 280 of his…
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