Kali dancing on Shiva
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Kali dancing on Shiva is a 1890 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting Kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting depicts a woman, Kali, dancing on a man, Shiva. Kali is shown with multiple arms, holding various objects, and wearing a red sari and a crown. Shiva is lying on the ground, looking up at Kali. The background of the painting is yellow, with some red accents. The painting is done in a style that blends Impressionism and Realism, with bold brushstrokes and vivid colors. The artist has used chiaroscuro to create a sense of depth and contrast in the painting. If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to look into the movement of Impressionism.
The painting depicts Kali in opaque watercolour on paper, shown with four arms, standing atop the prone figure of Shiva. She holds a sacrificial axe and a severed demon’s head, while her remaining hands display incorrect mudras; a halo frames her loose hair and tiara. A skirt of severed arms circles her waist, and a bird licks blood from the demon’s neck. Shiva beneath her bears coiled snakes around his head and neck.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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