Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates the deity riding a lion while wielding a sword, symbolizing the triumph of divine feminine power over evil forces.
The work depicts the Hindu goddess Durga engaged in combat with a demon, a classic subject within Indian mythological art. The composition illustrates the deity riding a lion while wielding a sword, symbolizing the triumph of divine feminine power over evil forces. Created in India around 1780, the piece uses ink and opaque watercolor to render this narrative of conflict and victory.
The presence of the horse alongside the lion and the armed goddess reinforces the martial iconography central to the story of Durga's battle against demonic entities. This visual representation serves as a direct illustration of the mythological genre, focusing on the specific interaction between the goddess, her mount, and her adversary.
Technique & Style
Created in 1780 in India, this work is executed in ink and opaque watercolor on paper. The painting measures 19.7 cm in height and 29.5 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece belongs to the mythology genre and features a composition depicting the goddess Durga alongside a demon, a lion, and a horse.
The artist remains anonymous, and the work is classified as a painting within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The medium of opaque watercolor suggests a technique capable of producing solid, vibrant fields of color typical of the period's mythological illustrations.
History & Provenance
The work is dated to circa 1780 based on institutional records, aligning with the late eighteenth-century Pahari school of Indian painting. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as a painting by an unknown artist. The image depicts the goddess Durga with a lion and a horse-mounted figure, consistent with Pahari narrative traditions.
The painting measures 19.7 by 29.5 centimeters. No documented commission or early provenance prior to its appearance in twentieth-century collections has been established, and the available sources list no specific exhibition history for the piece.
Legacy
The 1780 ink and opaque watercolor painting, attributed to an anonymous Indian hand, entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection and is studied as a representative example of miniature art that illustrates Durga’s mythic narrative through a sword, lion and horse. Its classification within the mythology genre and documented dimensions (19.7 × 29.5 cm) support scholarly analyses of devotional imagery in 18th‑century Indian painting. The work’s presence in a major public museum has prompted discussions about artistic anonymity and the transmission of Durga iconography, influencing subsequent research on unsigned devotional works.
Consequently, the piece is cited in publications on Indian miniature traditions, reinforcing its reputation as a benchmark for the goddess’s visual representation.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered in ink and opaque watercolor on paper, depicts the Hindu goddess Durga engaged in battle. Created in India, likely for a religious festival, the work showcases a dynamic scene of divine combat. Its vibrant palette and distinct stylistic elements reflect artistic traditions prevalent in its time and place of origin, offering a glimpse into devotional art.
Context
Originating from India, this painting was likely created for a Hindu festival, suggesting its function within religious observance and community celebration. Such artworks often played a role in storytelling and devotional practices, bringing sacred narratives to life for worshippers. Its production reflects a cultural practice where art served to enhance spiritual events and reinforce religious beliefs through accessible visual forms.
Artist & collection
