Plower in Pulla Caste, from Indian Trades and Castes

Art Historical Context

This evocative watercolor and gouache painting, created around 1840 by an anonymous Indian artist, belongs to the series *Indian Trades and Castes*. It portrays a farmer from the Pulla caste guiding his oxen across the fields, capturing a timeless moment of agricultural labor. Such works emerged during the early colonial period, when Indian artists produced detailed studies of local occupations and social groups, often for British patrons fascinated by the subcontinent’s diverse communities and customs. The medium of watercolor and gouache allowed the artist to render vibrant colors and fine ...

About the Artist

Anonymous, Indian, 19th century · 1800–1900

**Anonymous, Indian, 19th Century (ca. 1800–1900)** The artist cataloged as Anonymous, Indian, 19th century represents one of countless skilled Indian painters whose identities remain elusive in historical records, active during a transformative era under British colonial influence. Working roughly between 1800 and 1900, this anonymous figure exemplifies the legion of indigenous artists who adapt...