Untitled

Unknown

1875–80 · Lithograph · Asian Art

This monochromatic lithograph was printed in one of the first printing workshops in Kolkata (Calcutta) to produce Hindu devotional prints for commercial distribution. In this rendering, undoubtedly drawn by a trained painter, we see Vishnu’s man-lion avatar adorned with a crown revealing himself from within a pillar that has split open. The base and capital of the pillar are adorned with acanthus leaves, a detail familiar to the artist from Victorian colonial architecture in Calcutta. This rare impression may well be the earliest known popular print of this subject and was likely intended for hand-coloring.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1875–80

Medium

Lithograph

Culture

Eastern India, Kolkata, West Bengal

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mark Baron and Elise Boisanté, 2015