Constant Georges Gaste Français, 1869-1910

French painter and photographer, master of Indian Orientalism

Constant Georges Gasté was born in Paris in 1869 into a family of artists and art dealers. He studied at the Atelier Colarossi and later at the École des Beaux-Arts under Alexandre Cabanel. His first journey to Morocco, Algeria, and Palestine in 1892 deeply moved him, prompting his lifelong dedication to Orientalist art.

Introduced to the Bou Saâda artists' colony by Étienne Dinet, Gasté painted numerous portraits and scenes of Algerian life. Between 1898 and 1903, he lived in Cairo, documenting daily life through evocative images, before settling in India in 1905—first in Agra, then Madurai. In India, he earned the title "Painter of India," gaining exclusive access to the temple of Madurai and producing iconic works such as The Brahmins' Bath.

Combining painting and photography, Gasté immersed himself authentically in the societies he portrayed, eschewing colonial clichés. His work captures vibrant portraits, street scenes, and luminous landscapes imbued with spiritual depth. Gasté died in Madurai in 1910, leaving behind a profound artistic legacy rooted in his sincere engagement with the East.