King Janaka and Rama
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
King Janaka and Rama is a 1890 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows two men standing side by side. The man on the left has blue skin, wears a yellow and orange striped skirt, and holds a long staff. The man on the right is dressed in purple and red robes, with a tall red hat, and holds a red object in his hand. Notice how the colors are bright and flat, with bold outlines separating the figures from the background. The script at the bottom is in a different language. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more paintings like this.
The artwork is a 19th-century watercolor and tin alloy painting on paper depicting King Janaka alongside Rama during Sita's swayamvara, when Parasurama challenged Ramachandra to string Vishnu's bow. It reflects themes from local mythology and colonial-era societal tensions, characteristic of Kalighat paintings produced in Calcutta during the British Raj. The style features bold colors, simplified forms, and rapid brushwork typical of this regional art movement.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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