This artwork depicts the street associated with the crawling order. The narrow lane in Amritsar where, in April 1919, Brigadier General Reginald Dyer ordered Indians to crawl on all fours past the spot where a British woman had been attacked.
The crawling order was issued days before the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, in which Dyer's forces fired on an unarmed crowd in an enclosed garden, killing at least three hundred and seventy-nine people, the official British figure, widely considered an undercount. The crawling order received less attention at the time. It should not have. It was a statement of what the colonial relationship was, expressed in the posture of a human being forced to move like an animal through a public street.
Dyer was censured but not prosecuted. He was celebrated by sections of British opinion. The House of Lords voted in his favour. He was given a sword of honour. He died in his bed in Somerset.
Every artwork in the Riwayah collection is available in four premium display formats, crafted to suit every home and interior style. Our canvas prints offer a rich, textured finish that brings depth and character to each piece, stretched on FSC-certified wooden bars for a refined gallery feel. For a minimalist and versatile look, our magnetic hangers use durable pine wood to hold your print securely without marking it, making it easy to change artwork whenever you like. Those seeking a classic, museum-style presentation can choose our premium wooden frames, crafted from responsibly sourced oak or ash with visible natural grain and protected with shatterproof plexiglass. And for a sleek, contemporary finish, our aluminium frames pair clean black metal with heavyweight matte paper for a polished, modern aesthetic. All prints use FSC-certified paper and high-quality inks, arrive ready to hang or assemble, and are produced on demand in the UK to reduce waste and ensure the highest standard of craftsmanship.
