Surpanakha and Ravana
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1890
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Surpanakha and Ravana is a 1890 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, depicting Kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows two blue-skinned figures standing close. The one on the left wears a red sari with white dots and holds a fan. The other figure has a yellow-and-red striped umbrella and a crown with green jewels. Bright colors like red, blue, and gold stand out against a light background. The figures look like they’re from a story, with bold outlines and flat colors. The writing at the bottom is in a script that looks like Bengali. If you like this style, look up kalighat to see more paintings like it.
The artwork depicts an episode from the Ramayana in which Surpanakha persuades Ravana to seek vengeance for her disfigurement by Rama by abducting Sita. Executed in watercolour and tin alloy on paper, the piece reflects the stylistic traits of Kalighat painting, characterized by bold colours, simplified forms, and fluid brushwork. Produced during the late 19th century, it belongs to a tradition of Bengali artists who adapted rural techniques to urban markets in Calcutta, a city then serving as the capital of British India.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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