Figure Studies
English Babu Holding a Hookah
Unknown Artist
A striking Kalighat watercolor from 19th-century Calcutta featuring a stylishly dressed 'Babu' in a seated pose.
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Man Seated in a European Chair Smoking a Margila Pipe
Unknown Artist
1880 · Medium Not Listed
This 19th-century Kalighat painting features a man in repose, combining traditional Indian motifs with Victorian-era influences.
Unavailable
Frame size
Frame color
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Paper type
Glaze
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Where it works
A measured, grounding piece with mellow gold warmth — sits quietly within a room.
- Often works in
- Living Room · Study · Library
- Placement
- Strong for entryways, narrow walls, and vertical placements
- Walls
- Best with clear wall contrast
- Color notes
- Aged gold, Charcoal black, Soft gray
About the piece
A striking example of the Kalighat style from late 19th-century Calcutta, this painting depicts a man seated in a European chair while smoking an elaborate margila pipe. The work is characterized by bold, sweeping brushstrokes and simplified forms, reflecting the unique social and cultural intersections of colonial India through a graphic, modern lens.
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