Artwork
Kali Attacking Nisumbha
Kali Attacking Nisumbha is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a chaotic confrontation rendered in vivid, saturated hues.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts a chaotic confrontation rendered in vivid, saturated hues. On the left, a tiger and an elephant clash while a mounted rider watches the melee. To the right, a green‑skinned, fanged figure with an unruly beard seizes a falling horseman. The composition rests against a flat, sandy ground and a muted blue sky, emphasizing the dramatic action.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a mythological being rather than a historical person, suggesting a narrative drawn from folklore or religious legend. The juxtaposition of animal combat and the supernatural attacker conveys themes of chaos and divine intervention, inviting viewers to interpret the scene as a moral or cosmological struggle.
Technique & Style
The artist employs bold, uniform outlines and unmodulated color fields, producing a flattened, graphic quality reminiscent of early printmaking or illustration. This approach minimizes depth, focusing attention on the narrative elements and the striking contrast between the naturalistic animals and the fantastical green creature.
History & Provenance
The painting’s provenance is not detailed in the supplied information, and no specific date, artist, or collection history is provided beyond its current identification as a work titled “Kali Attacking Nisumbha.”
Artist & collection
