Artwork
Bali and Sugriva
Bali and Sugriva is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work presents a brief narrative episode in which two male figures engage in a struggle.
About this work
Overview
The work presents a brief narrative episode in which two male figures engage in a struggle. One figure kneels on a swath of green ground, while the other stands above him, brandishing a club. The composition is rendered in flat, vivid hues and set against a minimal backdrop of stylized foliage.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the mythic clash between Bali and Sugriva, characters drawn from the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. The kneeling figure’s startled expression and the opponent’s stern gaze convey the tension of the confrontation, emphasizing themes of rivalry and power.
Technique & Style
Executed with watercolor and tin alloy on cardboard, the painting relies on bold outlines and simplified forms. The palette is limited to bright, flat colors—purples, reds, yellows, and browns—while the background consists of a few gestural green and blue strokes suggesting trees.
History & Provenance
The piece is catalogued as a watercolor and tin alloy work on cardboard, though specific details of its creation date, artist, or ownership trail are not provided in the source material.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
