On Indian Art and Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (1877-1947)

In the next Indian Art Circle lecture, Janice Leoshko (University of Texas at Austin) will discuss the pioneering scholarship of Ananda Coomaraswamy (1877-1947), an aspect of her recent new book: Making a Canon: Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, Sri Lanka, and the Place of Buddhist Art (2024)

It is increasingly clear that the impact of Sri Lanka on the important scholar Ananda Coomaraswamy cannot be understood without engaging his first book, Mediaeval Sinhalese Art, published in 1908. The visual works highlighted there are mostly from the constellation of artisan workers that had developed around the Kandyan court. Although often characterized as art and crafts, much of the material was produced for a Buddhist context, a fact Coomaraswamy recognized. That he chose not to address relevant Buddhist sculptures in this early study has promoted the seeming non-religious character of the project. This talk explores the approach he was then developing about the relationship of art and religion by focusing on the implications of the term “Mediaeval” held for Coomaraswamy.

Contact

indianartcircle.london@gmail.com

Image credit

Portfolio of Indian Art