Hinduism in Martinique
Encyclopedia
The history of Hinduism
in Martinique
sort of began with the importation of India
n laborers in the mid-19th century, and, although Hindu
s now comprise only 0.5% of the population, the religion
is still practiced on the island today.
After the abolition of slavery
in 1848, plantation owners filled their need for laborers by importing India
ns from the subcontinent
, starting in 1853. These immigrants brought with them their Hindu religion. Many Hindu temple
s are still in use in Martinique and, in 1987, a personal description of their secret ceremonies was published by a Hindu participant.
The symbols, gestures and myths of Hinduism were an important inspiration to the French artist Paul Gauguin
, who visited Martinique in 1887. Gauguin mixed these with elements from the Caribs and Arawaks, native peoples of the island who had been wiped out by succeeding invaders.
Of special interest is Gauguin's 1896 painting La Femme du Roi (Tahiti
) and its origins in the Martinique Eve wooden bas-reliefs of 1887 to be seen in two designs, one where the figure of Eve
plucks a golden fruit and the second where the figure reclines holding a fan. The design derives originally from Lucas Cranach
's Diana Reclining and Édouard Manet
's Olympia
but the inspiration is Martinique and the symbolism is largely Hindu, the central figure being the Hindu goddess Mariamman
. The theme of this work is said to be religion, sin, luxury, death, capital punishment
and colonisation
. In terms of art history it is one of the most powerful examples of Gauguin's ability to transmute his Martinique experiences of 1887 to his work in Tahiti a decade later.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
in Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
sort of began with the importation of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n laborers in the mid-19th century, and, although Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s now comprise only 0.5% of the population, the religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
is still practiced on the island today.
After the abolition of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in 1848, plantation owners filled their need for laborers by importing India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns from the subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, starting in 1853. These immigrants brought with them their Hindu religion. Many Hindu temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
s are still in use in Martinique and, in 1987, a personal description of their secret ceremonies was published by a Hindu participant.
The symbols, gestures and myths of Hinduism were an important inspiration to the French artist Paul Gauguin
Paul Gauguin
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist. He was an important figure in the Symbolist movement as a painter, sculptor, print-maker, ceramist, and writer...
, who visited Martinique in 1887. Gauguin mixed these with elements from the Caribs and Arawaks, native peoples of the island who had been wiped out by succeeding invaders.
Of special interest is Gauguin's 1896 painting La Femme du Roi (Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
) and its origins in the Martinique Eve wooden bas-reliefs of 1887 to be seen in two designs, one where the figure of Eve
Eve (Bible)
Eve was, according to the creation of Abrahamic religions, the first woman created by God...
plucks a golden fruit and the second where the figure reclines holding a fan. The design derives originally from Lucas Cranach
Lucas Cranach the Younger
Lucas Cranach the Younger was a German Renaissance artist, known for his woodcuts and paintings.He was the youngest son of Lucas Cranach the Elder and Barbara Brengebier, and began his career as an apprentice in his father's workshop alongside his brother Hans. Henceforth, his own reputation and...
's Diana Reclining and Édouard Manet
Édouard Manet
Édouard Manet was a French painter. One of the first 19th-century artists to approach modern-life subjects, he was a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism....
's Olympia
Olympia (painting)
Olympia is an oil on canvas painting by Édouard Manet. Painted in 1863, it measures 130.5 by 190 centimetres . The nation of France acquired the painting in 1890 with a public subscription organized by Claude Monet...
but the inspiration is Martinique and the symbolism is largely Hindu, the central figure being the Hindu goddess Mariamman
Mariamman
Māri ,Tulu, also known as Mariamman , both meaning "Mother Mari", spelt also Maariamma , or simply Amman or Aatha is the South Indian Hindu goddess of disease and rain. She is the main South Indian mother goddess, predominant in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and...
. The theme of this work is said to be religion, sin, luxury, death, capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and colonisation
Colonisation
Colonization occurs whenever any one or more species populate an area. The term, which is derived from the Latin colere, "to inhabit, cultivate, frequent, practice, tend, guard, respect", originally related to humans. However, 19th century biogeographers dominated the term to describe the...
. In terms of art history it is one of the most powerful examples of Gauguin's ability to transmute his Martinique experiences of 1887 to his work in Tahiti a decade later.