A Scene from the Omar Khayyam Series

Asit Kumar Haldar, an illustrator behind important series such as History of India, Life of the Buddha and Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, raised the level of illustrative art in India considerably. The artist paints here a group of men engaged in serious discussion on literature or religious scriptures. Another figure, a much younger looking man, lost in thought, is shown going away, perhaps, having lost his point of view to the elders gathered. The artist creates various ‘levels’ in the picture for the purpose of perspective and depth.