Kali and Shiva
1860
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1860
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Kali and Shiva is a 1860 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
The painting depicts a woman standing on a man's chest, with a fierce expression. She has dark blue skin and wears a red headdress adorned with a yellow halo. Her attire includes a yellow skirt, a black shawl with white dots, and multiple necklaces. The man beneath her has light skin and is dressed in a white shirt and yellow pants. He lies on a red surface, with a blue sky and red curtains in the background. The woman's right hand holds a sword, while her left hand grasps a severed head. The overall atmosphere of the painting is intense and dramatic. This painting is reminiscent of the works of artists associated with the Impressionism movement.
A watercolour and tin alloy painting on paper from 1860 depicts the goddess Kali dancing atop her consort Shiva, shown with blue skin, a protruding tongue, and dripping blood. Kali is portrayed with four arms, one of which holds a severed head in her lower left hand. This work reflects the Kalighat painting tradition that emerged in Calcutta during British colonial rule, characterized by vivid colors, simplified forms, and rapid brushwork. The scene draws from Hindu mythology while also responding to the social and political context of 19th-century Bengal.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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