Artwork
Jagannatha Trio (verso)
Jagannatha Trio (verso) is an unspecified painting by the Bengal School artist Unknown. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2003.135.b
About this work
Overview
Jagannatha Trio (verso) is a painted work that presents three stylized figures arranged side by side. The composition relies on vivid, flat blocks of colour and strong contour lines, giving each figure a graphic presence without attempts at three‑dimensional modelling.
Subject & Meaning
Their bold costumes and iconic poses suggest they represent mythic or devotional personalities, possibly linked to the Jagannath tradition.
The three characters are dressed in striking ceremonial attire: a green dress with gold trim and matching headgear on the left, a red skirt with a yellow upper garment and white sash in the centre, and a figure with a black face, yellow skirt, red top and a gold‑green crown on the right. Their bold costumes and iconic poses suggest they represent mythic or devotional personalities, possibly linked to the Jagannath tradition.
Technique & Style
Executed in the flat, linear manner typical of Kalighat painting, the work employs solid pigments, defined outlines and a lack of chiaroscuro. The surface is treated as a decorative plane, emphasizing pattern and colour over realistic modeling, a hallmark of the 19th‑century Bengal folk art movement.
Context
Kalighat painting emerged in the bustling Kalighat region of Calcutta as a popular visual language for pilgrims and patrons. Works such as this one were often produced on paper or cloth for sale to travelers, reflecting both local religious narratives and the tastes of a growing urban market.
Artist & collection
