Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This folio, created around 1780 in Guler, Himachal Pradesh, depicts a dramatic battle scene from the Devi Mahatmya.
About this work
As the Daitya army charges, five Matrikas spring from the bodies of Brahma, Vishnu, Indra, Shiva, and Skanda to join Durga and Kali in battle. Painted around 1780 in the Guler court of Himachal Pradesh, this ink-and-watercolor folio from the Devi Mahatmya shows Brahma on his swan, Vishnu on Garuda, and Indra on an elephant. The Metropolitan Museum of Art received the page in 2008.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a battle scene featuring the Hindu goddess Durga, a central figure in Hindu mythology who represents the triumph of good over evil.
The painting depicts a battle scene featuring the Hindu goddess Durga, a central figure in Hindu mythology who represents the triumph of good over evil. She is accompanied by a demon, an elephant, a horse, and a bird, elements that enrich the iconography of her martial prowess. Durga is often portrayed slaying demons, and here the composition emphasizes her role as a warrior goddess.
The inclusion of various animals may symbolize the cosmic scale of the conflict or serve as attendants in her divine battle. The work thus conveys a narrative of divine intervention and the restoration of cosmic order, a core theme in Indian devotional art of the period.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in ink, wash, and translucent watercolor on paper, a combination typical of late-eighteenth-century Indian painting. The support is lightweight, matte paper, and the dimensions are compact (19.4 × 28.9 cm), suggesting a portable, possibly album-leaf format. The handling is characteristic of the period's history painting: bold linework for figures and animals (horses, elephants, birds, the demon), with washes and watercolor layers used to model the battle scene and the goddess Durga.
The translucent watercolor allows the paper to show through, imparting a luminous effect. The formal style aligns with Mughal-influenced regional traditions, combining precise outlines with atmospheric color washes.
History & Provenance
Created in India in 1780 by an anonymous painter, the work is executed in ink, wash, and translucent watercolor. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art at an unspecified date; no details of its commission or earlier ownership chain have been documented in the available sources.
Overview
This folio, created around 1780 in Guler, Himachal Pradesh, depicts a dramatic battle scene from the Devi Mahatmya. An unidentified artist, working within the Pahadi tradition, rendered the narrative using ink, wash, and translucent watercolor on paper. The artwork, measuring 19.4 by 28.9 centimeters, is titled "Durga, Kali, and Five Matrikas Battle the Daitya Army of the Demon Shumbha."
It is part of a larger series illustrating the goddess's triumphs, reflecting the artistic idiom of the Punjab Hills.
Artist & collection
