Durga was painted by Sita Devi in 1973.

Where can I see Durga?

Durga is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Durga?

Durga is associated with Contemporary Abstract.

Artwork

Durga

Sita Devi , 1973

Durga is a paint painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Sita Devi. It dates from 1973 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The work is an ink and coloured‑paint composition on paper portraying the Hindu goddess Durga. She is shown with numerous arms, each bearing symbolic objects, and is seated upon a lion with a yellow complexion marked by spots. The scene is set against a decorative floral motif rendered in a bright palette of pink, yellow, blue and white.

Subject & Meaning

Durga is presented as a multi‑armed deity, a visual expression of her power and protective role. The objects she grasps, including serpents and a severed head, reference mythological narratives of her triumph over evil forces, while the lion serves as her traditional mount, underscoring her martial vigor.

Technique & Style

The piece follows the Madhubani tradition, a folk painting style from northern Bihar. Executed with fine ink lines and vivid pigments, the artwork displays the characteristic dense patterning, intricate borders and stylised flora that define the genre. The use of paper rather than wall surfaces reflects the medium’s adaptation for broader distribution.

History & Provenance

Madhubani painting originated among Brahmin and Kayastha women who decorated interior walls. The style entered scholarly awareness after W. G. Archer documented it following the 1934 Bihar earthquake. By the 1960s, practitioners began producing works on paper for the art market, a shift that enabled pieces like this to enter museum collections.

Context

The depiction aligns with regional devotional art that emphasizes narrative detail and symbolic richness. The vibrant colour scheme and ornamental borders are typical of the Madhubani aesthetic, which blends ritual function with artistic expression, often serving both household worship and public exhibition.