Kali (SEB Contracted)

Synopsis

Early 20th century. Santal region of eastern Bihar/western Bengal. Scroll - paint on recycled paper. Size: 107 cm long and 20 cm wide. Museum number: 1988. 7-3. 06. Although crudely executed this picture shows Kalis true nature: fascinating but frightening and attended by terrifying goblins. The scroll comes from the tribal Santal zone in western Bengal. Here scrolls are used both for storytelling and for death rituals. This one is part of a group of seven that was acquired by a British school-teacher stationed in this then remote area. The dominate colours on this painting are black and red, along with tones of blue and brown. The image of Kali fills the top two thirds of this long, narrow picture. She is shown facing the viewer with her feet turned slightly to her right. Kali is standing on the left arm of a male figure, her husband Shiva, who is lying on his back. Two black goblins are shown below Shiva. Kali is depicted naked with a black body. Two areas of her body appear transparent, a strip around her hips and the upper half of her body extending a short way down her arms, as the background of the painting can be seen through these areas. The black areas of the body also have small red patches on the knees, elbows and feet. Her head is black with white eyes and black pupils, white teeth, a red moustache and long red protruding tongue. She has large ears with three holes in each with hoop earrings through the lower holes. Her hair is beaded and pulled upwards into spikes which looks like a crown. Kali has four arms, two are down by her side and two are held above her head. Each arm has a wide bangle at the wrist and bands on the upper arm. In her lower left hand, she is holding a severed head. Around her neck and descending down to her knees is a large garland that is made up of more severed heads. There are thick anklets around each ankle. The tactile image focuses solely on Kali. The black area of her body and head are shown with solid texture along with her crown-like hair and the hand-held severed head. The eyes, holes in the ears, teeth, protruding tongue, bangles, arm bands and anklets are shown as hollows in the solid texture. The garland of severed heads is shown as a rough texture with hollows for individual heads. Braille labels: upper right arm, upper left arm, letter p (for protruding tongue), lower right arm, lower left arm, garland of severed heads, severed head, arm band, wrist band and anklet on left leg."

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:

Art and Architecture, Science Fiction and Fantasy

Submitted By:

Alice Walsh

Proofread By:

N/A

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.