Online Talk
A Bigger History: Paintings from Murshidabad
How does a painting serve as a historical document?
Join us for a talk as we delve into the history of Murshidabad paintings which provide a window into the everyday experiences of people during a time of colonial scrutiny and change.
We will be joined by Dr. Mrinalini Sil, an art historian of Early Modern South Asia with an interest in Mughal and Provincial Mughal Paintings, patronage, the long 18th century and the history of collecting. In conversation with Khushi Bansal from our Exhibitions team, this talk will delve into the long history of Murshidabad paintings, drawing from our exhibition and Sil’s scholarship.
The conversation will look closely at the explorations, research and role of mica paintings within the larger context of Company School.
This talk has been organised as part of the larger programming around MAP’s exhibition The Forgotten Souvenir.
Dr. Mrinalini Sil
Dr. Mrinalini Sil is an art historian of Early Modern South Asia with an interest in Mughal and Provincial Mughal Paintings, patronage, the long 18th century and the history of collecting. She received her PhD in Visual Arts from the School of Arts and Aesthetics, JNU (New Delhi). Her dissertation titled “ Arts in the Age of Transition: Power, Politics and Culture in Murshidabad Paintings from Early Modern Bengal” studies the various cultural agents and socio-political factors surrounding the making and collection of art in early modern Bengal.
She has published and presented her work on Murshidabad paintings widely and she has been part of the curatorial team of the exhibition Rajas, Nawabs and Firangees: Treasures from the French and Indian Archives 1750-1850. Currently she is a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Khushi Bansal
Khushi, the curator of The Forgotten Souvenir, serves as a Research Curator at MAP. She is deeply involved in putting together exhibitions for the museum and spearheads Museums Without Borders, a digital initiative she holds very close to her heart. With a background in curatorial studies and a passion for art and history, Khushi is dedicated to creating meaningful dialogue in cultural spaces.
