Khodir Bakhsh

Rudolf Swoboda's 1887 portrait of Khodir Bakhsh — 'Khodir' (or Khidr) being the name of the Islamic figure of the Green Man, a prophet or spiritual guide in Sufi tradition, and 'Bakhsh' meaning 'gift' in Persian — depicts a Muslim sitter whose name carries Sufi overtones. Khidr is a particularly significant figure in Sufism, associated with spiritual guidance, immortality, and secret knowledge. Whether Khodir Bakhsh was himself associated with Sufi practice or simply bore a culturally significant name, the portrait adds to the series' documentation of Muslim religious and cultural diversity within British India.

Swoboda renders Khodir Bakhsh with the academic precision characteristic of the Indian portrait series. The modeling of the face pursues individual character within the tonal conventions of European portraiture. Muslim dress elements are documented accurately. The warm palette and neutral background are consistent with the series' established approach.