Parvati - Bronze Gallery, Egmore Museum (via Ravages) But the Victorian Englishmen who first encountered these sculptures were appalled by Parvati, partly because they were prudish, but partly also just because of just plain ignorance. They complained that the breasts were way too big, the hips were too big and the waist was too narrow. It didn’t look anything like a real woman - it wasn’t realistic - it was primitive art. And they said the same thing about the voluptuous nymphs of Kajuraho - even about Rajastani and Mogul miniature paintings. They said look these paintings don’t have perspective, they’re all distorted. They were judging Indian art using the standards of Western art - especially classical Greek art and Renaissance art where realism is strongly emphasized. - Villianur Ramachandran

Parvati - Bronze Gallery, Egmore Museum (via Ravages)

But the Victorian Englishmen who first encountered these sculptures were appalled by Parvati, partly because they were prudish, but partly also just because of just plain ignorance. They complained that the breasts were way too big, the hips were too big and the waist was too narrow. It didn’t look anything like a real woman - it wasn’t realistic - it was primitive art. And they said the same thing about the voluptuous nymphs of Kajuraho - even about Rajastani and Mogul miniature paintings. They said look these paintings don’t have perspective, they’re all distorted. They were judging Indian art using the standards of Western art - especially classical Greek art and Renaissance art where realism is strongly emphasized.

- Villianur Ramachandran