Untitled

Unknown

1880s–90s · Lithograph · Asian Art

Here the unity of all the gods is being emphasized; we are shown Vishnu and Lakshmi on the left and Shiva with Parvati and Ganesha on the right, while above, Brahma and other gods look down from the clouds. Further emphasizing this comingling of gods is the fact that Shiva’s bull, Nandi, and Vishnu’s elephant merge in a visual double entendre. The underlying narrative for this work is a moment when Lakshmi gives alms to a beggar she meets who is in fact, Shiva.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1880s–90s

Medium

Lithograph

Culture

India

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Bequest of Nina Bunshaft, by exchange, 2014