Untitled

Unknown

ca. 1890 · Chromolithographic print on paper · Asian Art

The Jagannatha triad is central to major Krishna cult centered on the pilgrimage city of Puri, in Odisha, eastern India. As seen here, Krishna, together with his elder brother Balarama and sister Subhadra, assume the doll-like forms of totemic idols that can be traced to tribal Odisha. The divine triad here has the brothers protectively flanking their sister, the dark complexion Krishna right and the fair Balarama left, -rather than with Jagannatha center-stage, as he is normally displayed to devotees during pujas and the great annual chariot (ratha) procession. The triad stand on a raised hexagonal dais, set within a pillared archway with drawn curtaining, reminiscent of a Victorian photography studio set. An assembly of Brahmanical deities sit reverently below on lotus cushions, notably Brahma, Vishnu, Garuda (on a fluted pillar) and two forms of ascetic Shiva. This print was produced in Calcutta, where the Jagannatha cult also had a strong following.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1890

Medium

Chromolithographic print on paper

Culture

India, West Bengal, Calcutta

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Peter Louis and Chandru Ramchandani Gift, 2018