Artwork
Shiva riding on Nandi
Shiva riding on Nandi is a paint painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Lila Devi. It dates from 28 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This painting, created by Lila Devi, is an example of Madhubani art, a traditional folk style from northern Bihar, India. It is executed in ink and colored paint on paper.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Shiva, the Hindu god, riding his bull vahana, Nandi. Shiva is shown with four arms and blue skin, adorned with snakes and jewelry, set against a backdrop of floral motifs and swirling patterns.
Technique & Style
The artwork is characterized by the use of flat colors and sharp lines, with no shading to indicate depth. The stylized representation of Nandi and the dense, patterned background are typical of Madhubani painting's distinctive visual language.
History & Provenance
Madhubani painting originated as a folk tradition practiced by women on household walls for ritual purposes. The style gained wider recognition after the 1934 earthquake and subsequent documentation by W.G. Archer, eventually shifting from wall to paper production in the 1960s.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Lila Devi kept a studio open to the street in Varanasi, where she painted on the floor using brooms when brushes ran out.
