Air-India/Europe
Artist
Sheela 'Charu' Gupte
Printer
The New Jack Printing Works Bombay
India
Date1971
MediumLithograph
Dimensions39 1/2 x 25 in. (100.3 x 63.5 cm)
ClassificationsPoster
Credit LinePoster House Permanent Collection
Object numberPH.842
DescriptionIn this poster advertising travel to Europe, the Maharaja is depicted skiing down an icy slope. Despite the snowy terrain, he appears in nothing but his turban and undergarments as he sits cross-legged on a bed of nails. This image references the traditional Hindu meditation practice during which a sage or ascetic lays on a bed of nails while remaining unharmed—a feat explained by simple physics and the distribution of force. This poster demonstrates that, in spite of his world travels, the Maharaja remains unmistakably Indian, helping to create a national identity as he brings his unique charm to every destination.On View
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