GANTZ, John (1772–1853)

An original hand-coloured lithograph by GANTZ, John (1772–1853) from the celebrated series The Indian Microcosm. The scene depicts Indian craftsmen engaged in the construction of a large masonry well, illustrating indigenous engineering techniques and the skilled labour involved in traditional water management. Rich in ethnographic detail, the composition reflects Gantz’s meticulous observation of Indian occupations and everyday life.

Published as part of The Indian Microcosm, one of the earliest illustrated surveys of Indian trades, customs, and industries, the lithograph is both an important documentary record and a finely executed example of early nineteenth-century lithographic printing in India. Original hand-coloured examples from this series are increasingly sought after for their historical significance and rarity.