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 painter's brother – that the men often talked craft. The postcard was produced for Babajee Sakharam & Co., a local retailer of photographic supplies and artists materials, and advertised this card as "First of its Kind, Illustrated Postcards Water Colour Reproductions of Native Characters and Scenes, by the Artist P. Gerhardt" (Times of India, Sept. 28, 1899). On the back was pre-printed "With Hearty Greetings" that made it appropriate for many occasions or holidays.