Sita and Hanuman
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Sita and Hanuman is a 1890 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting Kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows two figures under a tree. On the left is a woman with a pale face and simple white clothes, her body turned away. On the right sits a figure in bright red and gold, with a crown and bold patterns on their arms. The tree above them is dark, with blue sky peeking through its branches. The red-clothed figure holds the other’s hand gently. The writing at the bottom looks like a script from South Asia. This style is part of a tradition called *kalighat*. Look up kalighat to see more paintings like this.
This watercolour and tin alloy painting on paper depicts a scene from the Ramayana in which Sita presents Hanuman with a jewel intended for Rama. Produced around 1890 in Calcutta, the work reflects the Kalighat style, characterized by vivid colours, simplified forms, and rapid brushwork. The painting belongs to a broader tradition of 19th-century Bengali art that addressed local mythology and societal changes during British colonial rule.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
