Description: 

 

Here we have an Oleograph print of  Radha Rukhmini Krishnan by C.G. Ramanujam printed in Ravi Varma Press.

What is Oleography?

An oleograph is a colour print made using a lithographic printing process, developed in the nineteenth century to reproduce paintings in rich, layered colours. Unlike ordinary lithographs, oleographs were often finished with varnish or other surface treatments to give the image the appearance and texture of an oil painting. The technique made art more affordable and widely accessible, allowing images of gods, historical figures, landscapes and celebrated paintings to reach homes far beyond the original works. In India, oleographs played an especially important role in bringing devotional and popular imagery into everyday life, becoming an important part of the visual culture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

In late nineteenth-century India, the oleograph transformed the way people encountered art. The process allowed paintings to be reproduced in rich colours and large numbers, making images that were once accessible only in galleries, temples or the homes of the wealthy available to a much wider public. This became particularly significant through the work of Raja Ravi Varma, whose paintings of Hindu deities, mythological figures and scenes from Indian literature were reproduced through the Ravi Varma Press in Mumbai. These prints travelled into homes across the country and became part of everyday Indian visual culture. Today, Indian oleographs are valued not merely as reproductions, but as objects that tell the story of how art, technology and popular culture came together in colonial India.

Want to know the story behind this print?

Explore its journey from lithograph to Oleograph, and the history behind the image. Read the article →

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Product Details:

SKUID:PLCS0098

Product Name: Sree Radha Rukhmini Krishna by C. G. Ramanujam

Print Type: Oleograph Print

Artist: C. G. Ramanujam

Artist's Signature: Yes

Dimensions:

Frame Size : 29.5” x 22” x .75”

Print Size : 20” x 14”

weight : 3. 4 kgs

Press: (Ravi Varma Press, Malavli, Lonavala) The press details have been cut off by the previous owner, possibly during framing.

Age: from 1920s - 1930s and hence may have some signs of fading which adds to it's beauty.

Frame: The frame is made of wood and will have acrylic protection instead of glass to prevent damage during transit.

A Note from Purathanam: The products we sell are vintage and antique objects, as well as older and traditional decorative pieces, and may therefore carry visible scratches, chips and other signs of age and wear. We cherish these imperfections because they are reminders of the lives and stories these objects have been part of. We do not hide these marks, they are part of the object, and we display them honestly in our product photographs.

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Shipping:

We ship all over India.

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Return Policy:

No returns or Exchanges
Please do check the dimensions before you buy.