The Doyra Player of Calcutta Art Print

This hand-colored etching by François Balthazar Solvyns captures an 18th-century musician in Calcutta (now Kolkata), playing the doyra, a circular frame drum akin to a tambourine. Dressed in a simple dhoti and shawl, with a turbaned head and bare feet, he embodies the working-class folk tradition. The background—a thatched-roof dwelling and a lone palm tree—sets the scene of colonial Bengal. A rare glimpse into the region’s musical heritage, this artwork blends ethnographic detail with Solvyns’ signature fine lines and subtle hues, preserving a moment in time from Calcutta’s vibrant past.

These prints are printed on a fine quality ivory paper.

These are reproductions of old illustrations & in most cases will have the same imperfections as the original.