MFA Showcases Rare Hindu Prints from Modern Bengal

New exhibition 'Divine Color' explores the cultural impact of mass-produced lithographs of Hindu deities.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 9:15pm

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The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is debuting a new exhibition called 'Divine Color: Hindu Prints from Modern Bengal' that showcases rare early lithographs of Hindu deities. The exhibition, which runs through May 31, examines how these mass-produced and often overlooked prints influenced Indian culture, society, and religion in the late 19th century.

Why it matters

Hindu prints are ubiquitous in daily life for many Indians, but are rarely appreciated by art museums. This exhibition aims to break down intellectual barriers and give these prints the recognition they deserve as an important part of India's cultural heritage.

The details

The exhibition features over 100 objects, including 38 lithographs, paintings, sculptures, and textiles. Curator Laura Weinstein worked with the Delhi-based nonprofit Tasveer Ghar to obtain 20th century artifacts that show the evolution of Hindu prints beyond the 1800s. The exhibition explores how Bengali artists in late-19th century Kolkata used lithography to create affordable images of Hindu gods, transforming sacred Indian art into a more accessible form.

  • The exhibition opened on Saturday, February 4, 2026.
  • It will be on view through May 31, 2026.

The players

Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)

An art museum in Boston, Massachusetts that is debuting the 'Divine Color' exhibition.

Laura Weinstein

The Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art at the MFA, who curated the 'Divine Color' exhibition.

Tasveer Ghar

A Delhi-based nonprofit organization that collects and digitizes South Asian popular visual culture, and provided artifacts for the exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“Breaking down intellectual barriers is a really exciting thing to do in a museum. If these types of things were never seen as appropriate to show in a museum before, that makes me excited. Let's show them in a museum.”

— Laura Weinstein, Curator (dailyfreepress.com)

“As a curator, you work with so many different types of material that each project requires you to dive into something new, and that's often the fun of it.”

— Laura Weinstein, Curator (dailyfreepress.com)

“I love the idea that we're taking something kind of 'everyday' and then giving you a chance to go deep and understand where does it come from, how did it evolve, and how has it shaped society.”

— Laura Weinstein, Curator (dailyfreepress.com)

The takeaway

This exhibition at the MFA highlights the cultural significance and artistic merit of Hindu prints, which are often overlooked as mere 'calendar art' or souvenirs. By showcasing these rare lithographs, the museum is helping to elevate an important aspect of India's visual culture and challenging preconceptions about what belongs in an art museum.