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Thursday, February 19, 2026
TopicArt history

Topic: art history

Mahishasura Mardini in Ghazni: Humayun’s Tomb museum exhibition offers unsafe truths

Italian archaeologist Laura Giuliano’s curation brings together the entangled histories of India, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Iran and Italy, at a time when this knowledge is being deliberately forgotten.

In the art market, old is cool once again

There’s growing faith that the worth of historical artists is more robust. Last week, Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer (1914–1916) was sold for $236.4 million, the second-most-expensive artwork ever sold at auction.

Rajasthan has a Sistine Chapel of its own. It’s in Bundi, says art historian

German scholar Joachim Bautze gave a lecture titled ‘Bundi: The Earliest Surviving Royal Murals of Rajasthan’ at New Delhi's India International Centre on 30 October.

Orientalist artists romanticised Colonial-era India. Pilgrims disappeared from paintings

There’s a specific gaze that accompanied orientalist artists, a fascination laced with condescension. 'They exoticise, they mysticise, they romanticise,' said DAG's Giles Tillotson.

BN Goswamy left IAS to be an art critic. And he put Indian art on the global map

Goswamy was a maker of modern India. 'The history of post-colonial Indian art, art history, and art criticism cannot be understood without his career,' said writer Ananya Vajpeyi.

What’s the Japanese Wabi-Sabi aesthetic all about? ‘Miserable tea’, flawed beauty, loneliness

Wabi and Sabi are similar but distinct concepts, yoked together far more often outside Japan than in it.

This artist imagines India and Italy as neighbours. He’s inspired by his teacher Osho

Italian artist Nicola Strippoli, known as Tarshito, has worked with Indian folk artists for over 4 decades to create art guided by the spiritual practices of Osho and Thich Nhat Hanh.

Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism promoted trade. Rich merchants and sea traders were mediators

Sri Lankan academic Bopearachchi delivered the first in a series of lectures aimed at highlighting new discoveries, methodologies in history & archaeology.

Investing in art & making a fortune is not as easy as it sounds

It is human nature to look only at the big winners, while failing to include the impact of the losers.

B.N. Goswamy brings to life elusive Pahari painter Manaku of Guler

From scarce documents, archives, and works scattered around the world B.N. Goswamy writes about Pahari painter Manaku of Guler, an artist of formidable talent.

On Camera

Telangana spoke up for Muslim vendor who was attacked. South is different from the North

A poor Muslim man from Kurnool, selling khoya buns during the Medaram Jatara in Telangana, was harassed by some YouTubers and surrounded by a mob over allegations of 'food jihad'.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

US military commander, envoy Sergio Gor visit Indian Army Western Command, Bengaluru next

At the Western Army Command, the American delegation was briefed on the capabilities of the formation, past operations and the path ahead.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.