Indian Women in Udaipur 

Paul-Albert Besnard painted these Indian Women in Udaipur with oil on canvas. The artist uses a fine weave canvas as a base for the thin layers of paint, a ground from which he builds an intimate portrait of women in the Indian city of Udaipur. Note the way he has employed the fluidity of oil to create an expressive and evocative scene, capturing the rich colors of the women’s garments. The transparency of the oil paint allows the light to interact with the underlying layers, adding depth and luminosity to the composition. Besnard's approach reflects a convergence of academic painting and the broader context of cross-cultural encounters, which shaped the narrative of the scene he captured in paint. The artist acknowledges the labor involved in the production of goods, while highlighting the cultural values attached to the materials themselves. By focusing on the material qualities and historical processes of this artwork, we gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance and aesthetic appeal.