Untitled
1840
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1840
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Untitled is a 1840 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a muscular man with dark hair and a red headpiece, standing sideways. He’s shirtless, wearing a red skirt with yellow trim and gold armbands. His left arm has a tattoo-like pattern, and he holds a small black object in his right hand. The bold outlines and bright colors make the figure stand out sharply against the plain background. The style looks a bit exaggerated, like a mix of strength and drama. If you like this, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more art like this.
The painting, created in 1840 using opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, depicts a water carrier or *bhisti* holding an intricately patterned goatskin slung over his shoulder. The figure, adorned with jewellery, headgear, and a patterned dhoti, wears Shaivite markings and multiple amulets, suggesting he may be a priest rather than a labourer. Some scholars propose a later date around the 1870s, linking it to the Tarakeshwar murder case, a scandal involving an affair between a temple priest and a married woman in Calcutta. The work reflects the Kalighat painting tradition, known for its…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
