Kali
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Kali is a 1890 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting Kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a dark-skinned figure with four arms, wearing a red-and-gold sash and a tall, pointed headdress. The face is marked with white patterns, and the figure holds objects in each hand. Behind them is a simple temple-like structure with a curved roof. The colors are bold—blacks, reds, yellows, and greens—with thick, flat brushstrokes. The figure looks like a deity from Hindu tradition, often linked to protection and power. This style comes from a specific kind of Indian art called *kalighat*. Check out kalighat to see more paintings like this.
A watercolour and tin-alloy painting on paper depicts the goddess Kali positioned within a shrine. The work was donated in 1955 by M N Varvill, Esq. It reflects the Kalighat style that emerged in 19th-century Calcutta, characterized by bold colour, simplified forms, and rapid brushwork.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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