Rajput Forts 1878

Marianne North painted these Rajput Forts during her extensive travels in the late 19th century, a time when the British Empire exerted considerable influence over India. North, as a privileged Victorian woman, navigated a world largely defined by men. Her botanical expeditions were not merely scientific; they were acts of defiance against the restrictive roles assigned to women of her era. In "Rajput Forts," we see more than just an architectural depiction; we witness a cultural encounter filtered through a colonial lens. The serene watercolor aesthetic, while beautiful, might also subtly exoticize the Indian landscape, reducing it to a picturesque scene for Western consumption. What does it mean for a woman, during the height of British imperialism, to represent the architecture of a land under colonial rule? Consider how North's unique position shaped both her artistic vision and the legacy of her work.