Annapurna and Shiva
1860
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1860
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Annapurna and Shiva is a 1860 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows two figures standing side by side. The person on the left is light blue with a white skirt and black dots on their legs. They have four arms and hold objects in two of them. The person on the right wears a red and orange dress with a gold halo behind their head. Both have detailed jewelry and decorative patterns in the background. The figures look like gods from Hindu tradition. The bright colors and flat shapes are typical of traditional Indian religious art. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.
An opaque watercolour painting on paper depicts Annapurna, the Hindu goddess of nourishment, offering rice to Shiva. The work dates to 1860 and reflects themes common to Kalighat painting, which emerged in Calcutta during the 19th century. Kalighat artists, many of whom had migrated from rural Bengal, used bold colours, simplified forms, and quick brushwork to represent local mythology and social realities. The painting belongs to a tradition that flourished in Calcutta, then the capital of British India from 1833 to 1912.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
