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
Ink and watercolor creatures crowd the page: a many-armed goddess rides a lion, demons tumble, buffalo horns curl. The paper is Indian, around 1780, and the goddess is Durga, who fights evil in Hindu stories. Thin glazed layers of watercolor make the colors glow without heavy strokes. No one signed it. For more, search demons, lions, buffalos, durga, india.
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of these specific figures underscores the work’s mythological narrative, situating it within the genre of religious and narrative painting.
The painting depicts the Hindu goddess Durga mounted on a lion, confronting a buffalo demon. The iconography centers on Durga’s multi-armed form, armed with weapons and standing triumphantly over the defeated buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of divine feminine power over malevolent forces. The lion, her vahana, reinforces her role as a protector and warrior.
The demon’s buffalo form represents unruly nature subdued by righteousness, while Durga’s iconography, often associated with protection, justice, and the triumph of good over evil, aligns with traditional depictions of the goddess in combat. The inclusion of these specific figures underscores the work’s mythological narrative, situating it within the genre of religious and narrative painting.
Technique & Style
Created in 1780 by an anonymous artist in India, this work is executed in ink and opaque watercolor applied to a paper support. Classified as a painting within the mythology genre, the piece demonstrates the formal qualities of a narrative scene depicting the goddess Durga engaged in combat. The composition features specific iconographic elements, including a buffalo, a demon, and a lion, which are central to the mythological subject matter.
The use of opaque watercolor suggests a technique intended to achieve solid, vibrant color fields typical of the period's Indian manuscript or devotional painting traditions. The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Untitled is an ink and opaque watercolor on paper painting dated to 1780, created in India by an anonymous artist. The work depicts Durga confronting a buffalo‑demon with a lion, falling within a mythological genre. It is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it has been housed since its acquisition; no further details of earlier ownership, commission, or exhibition history are recorded in the available sources.
Overview
This untitled work, created in India around 1780, features a dynamic composition rendered in ink and opaque watercolor on paper. The scene is densely populated with various figures, including a multi-armed goddess mounted on a lion, surrounded by tumbling demons and prominent buffalo horns. The artwork captures a moment of intense action, characteristic of narrative religious painting from the period.
Context
This depiction of Durga's battle is part of a long-standing artistic tradition in India, where the goddess's exploits have been a recurring subject across various media. Artists frequently explored different interpretations of her epic confrontation with demonic forces, emphasizing her strength and protective qualities. Comparing this piece with other portrayals of Durga, her lion, and the vanquished buffalo demon reveals the diverse visual language employed to convey this significant mythological narrative.
Artist & collection
- Durga Slaying Mahisha
Untitled
Untitled
Durga Slaying Mahisha
Durga in Combat with the Bull, Mahishasura
Krishna Playing the Flute and other Episodes from the Bhagavata Purana
Untitled
Durga, Having Decapitated Bull and Mahishasura Within, Drives off Remaining Demons while Gods in Clouds Applaud
Durga Slaying Mahisha
Untitled
Durga and Mahishasura
Krishna Playing the Flute and other Episodes from the Bhagavata Purana
