Richard H. Davis Libros

Gods in Print is the first comprehensive collection of early hand-colored lithographs, multiple-block chromolithographs, and offset print images of India’s world of gods and goddesses. India’s love of gods in print began in the 1870s with the founding of the Calcutta Art Studio and the Chitrashala Press. In 1894, artists Ravi and Raja Varma set up the Ravi Varma Fine Art Lithographic Press outside Bombay. By the early 1900s, these presses had begun selling their prints throughout the subcontinent. Collectors Mark Baron and Elise Boisante have traveled to remote corners of India to document and preserve this fragile and beautiful popular art form. Their diligence in tracking down “God prints” and restoring them to their original brilliance has resulted in the extraordinary and comprehensive collection featured in this volume. For the first time, the full scope of India’s sacred imagery in print can be viewed from its earliest days.

Chronicling India's religious diversity over two millennia, Richard Davis explores the evolution of various faiths from 1300 BCE to 700 CE. He highlights the birth of major religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, alongside lesser-known folk practices. Through a rich tapestry of hymns, poems, and artifacts, Davis reveals how these religious cultures interacted, debated, and influenced each other within a dynamic social and political landscape. The narrative showcases the vibrant and complex nature of early Indian spirituality, emphasizing its multifaceted voices and visions.