Test: The Changing World of Visual Arts - UPSC MCQ

The word convention here stands for “an accepted norm or style” as the statement talks about the Europeans bringing in the different styles of painting techniques and styles which added to the existing norms or ways of painting.

Answer: A. European artists
European artists are being referred to as "they" in the given statement. They began producing pictures that became widely popular in Europe and helped shape Western perceptions of India.
Explanation:
The production of pictures by European artists played a significant role in shaping the Western perceptions of India during that time. Here's a breakdown of the explanation:
1. European artists: These are the individuals who created and produced the pictures.
2. Widely popular in Europe: The pictures gained popularity and were widely appreciated in Europe.
3. Shaping Western perceptions: The pictures influenced how people in the Western world perceived India. They provided visual representations and impressions of the country.
4. India: The subject of the pictures, India, is the country being depicted and represented in the artwork.
By producing these pictures, European artists introduced Europeans to the visuals of India, which in turn influenced their understanding and perception of the country. These images may have depicted landscapes, people, customs, or other aspects of Indian culture and society.

Realism is art that accurately represents real life people, places, and things. The Europeans brought in this concept to portray the everyday lives in their work.

Answer:
The painters Thomas Daniell and his nephew William Daniell came to India in the year 1785.
Explanation:
The Daniell duo, Thomas Daniell and his nephew William Daniell, were British painters who specialized in documenting the landscapes and architecture of India. Here is a detailed explanation of their arrival in India:
- Thomas Daniell:
- Thomas Daniell was born in 1749 in England.
- He was a landscape painter and an influential figure in the field of British art.
- In 1784, Thomas Daniell received a commission from the East India Company to travel to India and depict its landscapes and monuments.
- He arrived in India in the year 1785.
- William Daniell:
- William Daniell, born in 1769, was the nephew of Thomas Daniell.
- He was also an accomplished painter and accompanied his uncle on his journey to India.
- Together, they embarked on an extensive tour of India, visiting various regions and capturing the country's diverse landscapes.
- William Daniell's drawings and paintings of India were later published as a series of aquatints in the book "Oriental Scenery."
- The publication of "Oriental Scenery" between 1795 and 1808 brought the duo significant acclaim for their artistic representation of India.
Therefore, Thomas Daniell and William Daniell arrived in India in the year 1785 to embark on their artistic journey of documenting the country's landscapes and architecture.

Calcutta :A state of E India on the bay of bengale: formed in 1947 from the Hindu area of Bengal; additional territories added in 1950(cooch Behar), 1954(chandernagor), and 1956(part of bihar) ; mostly low lying and crossed by the Hooghly River. capital Kolkata (Calcutta). Calcutta is one of the largest cities in the world and suffes from proverty overcrowding and unemployment

A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant.

Portraiture:
Portraiture refers to the art of creating portraits, which are visual representations of individuals or groups of people. It involves capturing the likeness, character, and personality of the subject through various artistic techniques. Portraits can be created using different mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture, or photography.
Key Points:
- Portraiture is the art of making portraits.
- Portraits are visual representations of individuals or groups of people.
- Portraits aim to capture the likeness, character, and personality of the subject.
- Portraits can be created using various artistic techniques and mediums.
- Painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography are common mediums used in portraiture.
- Portraiture has been practiced throughout history and is a significant genre in art.
- Portraits can serve as a means of displaying wealth, status, and lavish lifestyles, as seen in the context of the empire mentioned in the question.
- Portraiture allows artists to express their creativity and interpretation of the subject.
- Portraits can convey emotions, tell stories, and preserve memories.
- Portraiture is still a popular and relevant art form today, with contemporary artists exploring new techniques and approaches.

The correct answer is option (A).  In colonial India, portraits were life-size images that looked lifelike and real. The rich and powerful people, both Indian and British, were very fond of self-portraits. European artists like Johann Zoffany visited India in search of profitable commissions. He was born in Germany, migrated to England and came in India and stayed for five years. He depicted the British as superior and imperious, flaunting their clothes, standing royally or sitting arrogantly and living a life of luxury while Indians were portrayed as submissive and inferior serving their white masters and occupying a shadowy background in his paintings.

British artists in the early 19th century seemed to regard watercolor primarily as a sketching tool in preparation for the "finished" work in oil or engraving.