Durga and Mahishasura
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Durga and Mahishasura is a 1890 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting Kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a fierce goddess with four arms, standing over a blue-skinned man on a lion. The goddess wears a red sari and a golden crown, holding weapons like a sword and a disc. The man below looks scared, clutching the lion’s mane while the lion roars. Bright colors—reds, yellows, and blues—pop against a light background, and the lines are bold and simple. This style is called *kalighat*, a type of Indian painting from the 19th century. The bold outlines and flat colors make it easy to read at a glance, almost like a storybook illustration. Look up kalighat next to see more paintings like this.
The artwork depicts Durga in combat with Mahishasura, rendered in watercolour and tin alloy on cardboard from 1890.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
