The Charm of Indian Art

The Charm of Indian Art by W. E. Gladstone Solomon, first published in 1926 by T. Fisher Unwin Ltd., London, is a collection of essays exploring the aesthetic, religious, and cultural character of Indian art. Rather than presenting a strictly chronological history, Solomon approaches Indian art through selected themes and monuments, emphasizing its spiritual symbolism, visual beauty, craftsmanship, and relationship with Indian social and religious life. The volume includes discussions of the women depicted in the Ajanta Caves, the artistic traditions of the Pāthāre Prabhu community, Sanchi and the Indian viewpoint in art, and the character of the Indian artist as interpreter, humorist, and imaginative creator. The book is also illustrated with images and diagrams relating to Ajanta, Sanchi, rangoli designs, sculpture, and traditional Indian artistic practices.