Artwork
Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso), from a Kalighat album
Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso), from a Kalighat album is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting, titled "Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya," is a folk art depiction from a Kalighat album.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a verso from a Kalighat album, the piece serves as a visual retelling of this specific mythological episode, emphasizing the deity's role as a savior.
The painting depicts the Hindu deity Krishna subduing the serpent Kaliya, a narrative drawn from Hindu mythology where the god tames the venomous snake to protect the people of Vrindavan. Created in Kolkata around 1890, this work belongs to the Kalighat painting tradition, which typically illustrated popular religious stories for a local audience. The imagery represents the triumph of divine order over chaotic, destructive forces, symbolizing the protective power of Krishna against evil.
As a verso from a Kalighat album, the piece serves as a visual retelling of this specific mythological episode, emphasizing the deity's role as a savior.
History & Provenance
Created in Kolkata in 1890, this painting is attributed to an unknown artist working in the Kalighat style. The work forms the verso side of a leaf from a Kalighat album. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 2003.113.b. The specific circumstances regarding its original commission or the intermediate ownership chain prior to its acquisition by the museum are not detailed in the available records.
The work Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso) is part of a Kalighat album painting dated to 1890 by an unknown artist. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art under accession number 2003.113.b. The internal catalog entry and the Wikidata record for the piece do not mention any past exhibitions, so no exhibition history is recorded in the provided sources as of the sources consulted.
Overview
This painting, titled "Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya," is a folk art depiction from a Kalighat album. It illustrates a pivotal moment in Hindu mythology where the deity Krishna subdues the multi-headed serpent Kaliya. The composition features Krishna centrally positioned, asserting dominance over the coiled serpent, flanked by two female figures. Its aesthetic is characterized by vibrant hues and distinct outlines.
Technique & Style
Executed in a distinct folk art manner, the painting employs bold lines and a vivid palette to convey its mythological subject. Krishna's form and the serpent's coils are delineated with strong contours. A warm yellow background sets off the cooler tones used for the serpent's body, creating visual contrast. The overall aesthetic emphasizes directness and expressive color application, typical of the Kalighat tradition.
Artist & collection
Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso), from a Kalighat album
Leaf from a Kalighat album: Krishna as Kali worshipped by Radha (recto); Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso)
Leaf from a Kalighat album: Krishna as Kali worshipped by Radha (recto); Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso)
Krishna dancing on the serpent Kaliya.