Rama and Lakshmana
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Rama and Lakshmana is a 1890 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting depicts a scene with two men and an elephant. The man on the left is blue and wears a yellow dhoti, while the man on the right sits on the elephant, dressed in purple. Both men hold bows and arrows. The elephant is gray with a red blanket on its back. The background of the painting is off-white. The painting features a mix of bold colors and simple lines, giving it a sense of movement and energy. The use of blue for one of the men's skin tone adds a touch of realism to the scene. The painting is an example of the Impressionism movement.
This watercolour and tin alloy painting on paper depicts a scene from the Ramayana in which Rama and Lakshmana battle the demon Viravahu. Produced around 1890, it reflects the Kalighat style that emerged in Calcutta during the 19th century, characterized by bold colours, simplified forms, and rapid brushwork. The work belongs to a broader tradition of Bengali artists who, arriving from rural areas, adapted local mythology and contemporary conflicts into a popular visual idiom.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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