Untitled

Unknown

1878–1883 · Lithograph, printed in black and hand-coloring with watercolor and selectively applied glaze · Asian Art

Ganesha sits in a templelike space holding a bag of sweets; he is accompanied by a rat, which is his vehicle (vahana). This depiction is unusual in that it emphasizes his intellect and the role he played in transcribing the great religious epic, the Mahabharata, as dictated by the sage Vyasa. Ganesha is shown in the white robes of a learned Brahman, writing with a pen, rather than with his broken tusk, as is more commonly seen. By the late nineteenth century, mass-produced lithographs—like this lavish, hand-colored example—became widely available and found their way into household shrines across India. Images of Ganesha were especially popular.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1878–1883

Medium

Lithograph, printed in black and hand-coloring with watercolor and selectively applied glaze

Culture

West Bengal, Calcutta

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2021