October 3, 2011

Paint combined with photography is a style of art used in many areas of the world to enhance the realism of a black and white print. In India, however, paint is used to embellish a photograph, at times covering the entire image. This different use of paint and photography achieves an enhanced emotionality, used to celebrate, commemorate, and mark rites of passage.

Embellished Realities: Indian Painted Photographs features over 60 works from the ROM’s collection that have never been on display. The photographs date from the 1860s, only a few decades after the invention of photography, up to the 2000s.

The ROM is open today from 10am until 5:30pm. For more information on this exhibit, go to www.rom.on.ca.