The Ravi Varma Press

Water bearer. Bombay.

Water bearer. Bombay.

A very early India-printed postcard signed by the chief lithographer at the Ravi Varma Press, Paul Gerhardt. Gerhardt was probably aware of Ravi Varma's prize-winning painting that year, Water Bearer, and we know from Raja Varma's diaries - the great

Gangavataran

Gangavataran

[Original caption] Shankar receives the river Ganga on his head in compliance with the prayers of Bhageeratha. [end]

This image is from a famous painting by Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), one of India's most important painters.

Bori Bunder Station

Bori Bunder Station

Postmarked 22 March 1905 in Bombay, and April 18 1905 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Addressed to “H. H. Rogers Esq. Konupa Makme-Kopunuka, Odessa South Russia-in-Europe." [Recto] “Magnificent station but far too big for requirements.” Today it is the

Karli Caves

Karli Caves

An early court-sized postcard by Paul Gerhardt, chief lithographer at The Ravi Varma Press in - yes - Karli, outside Bombay. The firm moved its premises here in the late 1890s.

Gajagauri

Gajagauri

[Verso] Gaja-Gauri :- Goddess Parwati. [end]

From a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, Parvati is the Hindu goddess of fertility, love, beauty, marriage, children, devotion, divine strength and power.

[Karla Station]

[Karla Station]

This postcard shows a scene at the platform of Karla railway station outside Mumbai where The Ravi Varma Press was headquartered. On the platform, a barefoot man is holding a stick, another is smoking a hookah.

Jumma Masjid Bombay

Jumma Masjid Bombay

Another exuberant, deftly rendered very early postcard by Paul Gerhardt, chief lithographer at the Ravi Varma Press in Bombay. Note the simply drawn mosque minarets, the colors that pull you in while the cart pushes out into the foreground space.

Birth of Shakuntala

Birth of Shakuntala

Vishvamitra was a revered sage in ancient India; this postcard from one of Ravi Varma's most famous paintings shows how he rejects knowledge of his child by turning away and hiding his gaze with a dramatic gesture.

[Original caption] Menaka sent by

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