Untitled

Unknown

late 5th–early 6th century · Red sandstone · Asian Art

This head from a nearly lifesize figure of the Buddha reflects the late Gupta artistic idiom. In an effort to represent the Buddha’s enlightenment and his inward-looking meditative nature, the artist abstracted and idealized his physical features, especially evident in the articulation of the eyes and the intersecting convex planes of his cheeks and forehead.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 5th–early 6th century

Medium

Red sandstone

Culture

India (Uttar Pradesh, Mathura)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Doris Rubin, in memory of Harry Rubin, 1989