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Entrance to Golden Temple. Amritsar. by Charles W. Bartlett

Entrance to Golden Temple. Amritsar. by Charles W. Bartlett

Entrance to Golden Temple. Amritsar.

Charles W. Bartlett

Title

Entrance to Golden Temple. Amritsar.

 
Artist

Charles W. Bartlett

 
Year
c. 1919  
Technique
Color woodcut 
Image Size
10 7/16 x 15 1/8" image 
Signature
signed in graphite, lower left margin 
Edition Size
edition projected at 100 but actual number of impressions is unknown 
Annotations
titled in block in blue ink, lower right image; CWB monogram in blue ink in lower right image 
Reference
Seville Miles no.20 illustrated on page 112 in A Printmaker in Paradise 
Paper
ivory laid Japanese 
State
this appears to be a color proof before the dark green was added to the foliage 
Publisher
Shozaburo Watanabe, Tokoyo 
Inventory ID
18936 
Price
SOLD
Description

The Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib (Abode of God), is a gurdwarda (gathering place) is located in Amritsar, Punjab, India. It acts as the foremost spiritual center of the Sikh religion. Construction was completed in 1589, though it had to be rebuilt several times over the centuries after being the target of religious and political persecution, including as recently as 1984. The current iteration has elements of white copper and gold leaf, giving it its name.

In this early 20th century scene, Charles W. Bartlett depicts a portion of the entrance to the temple, lit brightly by the sun and viewed from the safety of afternoon shade. A corner of the sacred pool, called an amritsar (nectar pool), believed by the Sikhs to have restorative powers, is seen within the bounds of the courtyard. Pilgrims stroll along the path which circles the pool before entering the sacrum. The heavy branches of a sacred jujube tree stretch across the path, providing a peaceful resting place.