Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, distemper, 1775
Untitled, distemper, 1775

Untitled is a distemper painting. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

A blue-skinned god with a discus battles a green, sword-wielding demon on a castle rooftop while tiny soldiers and elephants scramble along the fortress wall below. It was made in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley around 1775 in distemper, pigment bound with animal glue, on paper. The bright colors and flat shapes read more like a storybook than a real battle.

Subject & Meaning

The demon functions as an antagonistic symbol, while the castle may represent a mythic realm or stronghold, together framing a story of spiritual victory.

Untitled (1775) is a distemper painting on paper classified as mythology, depicting Krishna, a demon, and a castle. The work was produced in Nepal and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession 1985.398.10). Its iconography places the divine Krishna beside a demonic figure within a fortified structure, suggesting a narrative of divine triumph over evil.

The demon functions as an antagonistic symbol, while the castle may represent a mythic realm or stronghold, together framing a story of spiritual victory. The painting reflects 18th-century Nepali mythological themes and the symbolic use of Hindu deities to convey moral contrasts.

Technique & Style

The work is a distemper painting executed on paper, measuring approximately 37.5 × 55.9 cm, and was created in Nepal around 1775. Its support is thin paper, typical of devotional images from the period, and the surface shows the matte, chalky texture characteristic of distemper. The composition depicts the Hindu god Krishna alongside a castle and a demon, arranged in a mythological narrative that blends narrative clarity with delicate line work.

History & Provenance

The untitled painting, created around 1775 in Nepal, is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with accession number 1985.398.10. The work, executed in distemper on paper, measures 37.5 cm in height and 55.9 cm in width. The provided sources do not list specific exhibition histories or prior provenance details beyond its acquisition by the institution. The artwork depicts mythological figures including Krishna, a demon, and a castle, attributed to an anonymous artist.

Overview

This untitled painting, created in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley around 1775, depicts a dramatic confrontation. Executed in distemper on paper, the work presents a blue-skinned deity engaged in combat with a green demon atop a fortified structure. The vibrant colors and distinct forms characterize this religious artwork, offering a narrative rather than a strictly realistic portrayal of battle.

Krishna and Satyabhama Storm the Citadel of Naraka, folio 97 from a Bhagavata Purana
Krishna and Satyabhama Storm the Citadel of Naraka, folio 97 from a Bhagavata Purana

Artist & collection

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Romanticism.