Garden of Kama 1914

Byam Shaw, a British artist who lived from 1872 to 1919, created this artwork titled 'Garden of Kama'. The painting gives form to Kama, the Hindu god of love and desire. Shaw positions us as voyeurs, peering through a veil of stars at Kama, who hides behind a semi-transparent fabric. This is a painting rooted in orientalism, which was a fascination with Asian cultures in the West, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. White, male artists of the period frequently exoticized Asian cultures through painting. There is a tension in seeing someone else’s culture represented in order to be consumed as an aesthetic experience. The use of a veil creates both a sense of mystery and a barrier between the viewer and the subject. It invites us to contemplate our own desires and the complex ways we perceive others.