Bhima and Jarasandha
1885
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1885
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Bhima and Jarasandha is a 1885 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting Kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows two men in a wrestling pose. The larger man, with a mustache and curly hair, wears a red cloth around his waist and holds the smaller man’s arm. The smaller man, with a round face and bare chest, reaches up as if struggling. The background is a flat blue-green color, and the figures have bold outlines with bright, flat colors—no shadows to soften their edges. The painting looks like it’s part of the *kalighat* style, a type of Indian folk art from the 19th century. The figures are strong and simple, with a focus on action over detail. If you like this style, check out more works labeled *kalighat*.
The painting depicts Bhima in the act of killing Jarasandha, the king of Magadha, rendered in opaque watercolour on paper. Created in 1885 by an unknown artist, the work was later acquired from Miss M Steele, having been part of a collection inherited from her mother.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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