India

Table Boy

Table Boy

From an unusual lithographic series, a marvelous rendition of a type still very active throughout the subcontinent and restaurants abroad.

Mohini

Mohini

[Original caption] The Goddess of beauty sitting on a swing [end]

This image by Ravi Varma was one of his most successful in calendar art. Shown here she is perfect and ordinary, ideal yet accessible.

A Malingerer

A Malingerer

[Original caption] A Malingerer. The picture shows a bullock fallen on the road. The coolies in attendance, believing the animal to be a malingerer, would coerce him into activity by throwing red pepper into his eyes. [end]

Malee. (Gardener.)

Malee. (Gardener.)

The word "mali" apparently comes from the Sanskrit "mala" or garland via Hindi. Malis seem to be generally shown crouching on postcards.

[Verso, handwritten] "Upper Burma, May 8/[19]18 My dear Annie, I am pleased to hear from Mother that you got some

Coolie Women

Coolie Women

A rather unusual portrait of "coolie" women. While popular postcard subjects, often shown with their baskets, this studio portrait features one woman with her back to the viewer, and another looking straight into her (invisible) eyes.

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