Description
Join scientist Jennifer Giaccai as she discusses her research on pigments used in South Asian paintings called pichwais. Pigments are the raw materials that give paints color. These materials can come from plants and stones, or they can be man-made. Pichwais are intricate and colorful paintings on fabric that average about eight by eight feet in size. By examining materials found in pichwais, Jennifer explores an under-researched topic: how pichwai painters fit into the artistic landscape of India and how their methods have changed over time.
Learn how Jennifer used cameras, infrared light, ultraviolet (UV) light, and other techniques to identify pigments and reveal hidden features like underdrawings. You'll get the chance to interact with pigment samples directly and even see how some of them glow under UV light.
Fourteen pichwais are currently on view in the exhibition Delighting Krishna: Paintings of the Child-God (March 15–August 24).
Image credit: Hutomo Wicaksono
Cost
Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only)
Accessibility & Accommodations
Assisted listening devices, Wheelchair accessible
