Small Press Exoticism: Rabindranath Tagore and the Late Arts and Crafts Movement

Key Points

Tagore's work catalyzed new appreciation for literary traditions, enhancing small press production and exoticism in published art.
Key influence identified was Tagore's Gitanjali, which marked his rise to international fame through literary production.
Analysis focused on small presses that supported expensive editions emphasizing colonized artistic traditions and value.
Cultural implications highlight how literary forms can transform perceived value in artistic expression globally.

Abstract

Abstract: In 1912, Rabindranath Tagore launched himself into international fame with the publication of his first English-language poetry collection, Gitanjali . This article considers Tagore’s rapid rise to celebrity status in England within the context of the publishing networks he was part of at the time, focusing especially on his relationships with small presses that sought to assert the value of literary and artistic traditions in colonized nations through the production of expensive, limited-edition books. These presses initiated a distinct style, which I refer to as small press exoticism, and which I argue was catalyzed by the popularity of Tagore’s writing.

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Small Press Exoticism: Rabindranath Tagore and the Late Arts and Crafts Movement

Key Points

Abstract

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