Woman Holding a Child c. 1775
chitqua
sculpture, wood
portrait
mother
neoclassicism
sculpture
figuration
historical fashion
sculpture
wood
genre-painting
"Woman Holding a Child" is a wooden sculpture carved by the Indian artist Chitqua in the mid-18th century. This intricately detailed work depicts a woman in traditional attire holding a child, possibly a depiction of a mother and her infant. The sculpture showcases Chitqua's talent for carving and capturing the delicate features of the human form, and the use of muted colors adds to the sculpture's realism and emotional depth. The piece provides a glimpse into the artistic traditions of 18th-century India.
Comments
The Chinese denied European women entry into Canton. Despite this ban, several Western women nevertheless managed to visit Canton. The Chinese sculptor Chitqua might have made this statuette –possibly a portrait –on such an occasion. Quite exceptionally, the figure is carved from wood rather than modelled in clay, like Chitqua’s other known works.
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