Untitled

Unknown

ca. 1780 · Ink and opaque watercolor on paper · Asian Art

After witnessing the destruction of his armies, the demon Mahisha in his buffalo form confronts Durga, crushing some of her troops under his hooves. The goddess is shown taking a drink of powerful nectar; the text tells us that she laughs with reddened eyes before entering into combat. While this drawing lacks the final application of colored pigments, it is significant that the preparatory image was brought to such a finished form; especially notable is the volumetric treatment of the buffalo.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1780

Medium

Ink and opaque watercolor on paper

Culture

India, Guler, Himachal Pradesh

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Cynthia Hazen Polsky, 2005