Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
Like so many other Indian artists painting in the mid 20th century, Sultan Ali sought to create a personal identity that would defy the pervasive colonial intrusion. The muted, monochromatic scene emulates ancient cave painting, a time long before the British came to South Asia. The textured surface with animals scattered here and there, large and small, overlapping, as seen in ancient caves like Altamira or Lascaux, presents an alluring image.