Durga and Mahishasura
1880
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1880
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Durga and Mahishasura is a 1880 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a bright red figure with four arms standing over a blue-skinned demon. The woman wears a yellow headpiece with sun-like rays and holds objects in each hand. The demon below has a feline face and claws, looking scared. Bold outlines and flat colors fill the scene, with no shading to soften edges. The red figure is likely Durga, a warrior goddess in Hindu stories. The style looks like *kalighat* paintings, which were made by artists in Kolkata around this time. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more paintings like this.
