Durga Defeats the Demon (SEB Contracted)

Synopsis

Mid to late 19th century. Calcutta, Bengal, Kalighat style. Watercolour on paper. Size: 47.5 cm high and 29.5 cm wide. Gift of W. Archer, 1949. 4-9. 076. This painting shows the goddess Durga battling with the demon, Mahishasura. She moves in for the final kill, with one foot on the back of her lion and the other on the demons back. In his final moments, Mahishasura has taken on human form. Earlier in the story he fought with Durga as a buffalo. This painting was made near the temple of Kali at Kalighat. The area is a source of colourful, quickly produced imagery which would have been carried away by pilgrims to the temple. The colours on the painting are red, blue, yellow, green and black on a beige background. Durga is shown facing the viewer, her head turned slightly to the right and surrounded by a large halo. She has ten arms, two are folded across her chest with the rest spread out at each side of her body. The feet and arms are bare with ankle and wrist bangles. There is body decoration, mainly in the shape of crosses with dots, on all the arms. In the hand of the right arm on her chest, she is holding a sabre. On her head, she is wearing a jewelled crown with a long black patterned headdress flowing out from underneath this. She is holding the edge of the headdress in the hand of the left arm that is folded across her chest. A red patterned sari-like garment covers her body with a yellow-fringed edge which can be seen behind her on her right. Beneath her feet is a lion that is pouncing on a green human-faced demon that has long black hair and is holding a sabre in its right hand. Durga has hold of the demon's long hair in the left hand of the lower arm. The tactile image shows Durga and part of the demon's long hair. The lion and body of the demon have been omitted. Durga is outlined with a thick line. The halo, sabre held by Durga, and facial features are shown as solid texture. The crown is shown as a solid texture with hollows for the jewels. A rough texture shows the headdress. A smoother texture shows the Durga's garment. A series of thin lines show the bangles. Body decoration is shown as thin line crosses with solid dots. Braille labels: halo, left arm and hand, right arm and hand, hair of demon, right foot, and position of lion and demon.

Copyright:

2014

Book Details

Book Quality:

Excellent

Publisher:

RNIB

Date of Addition:

03/28/17

Copyrighted By:

RNIB

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Submitted By:

Alice Walsh

Proofread By:

N/A

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.