id: 162427 accession number: 2003.103 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.103 updated: 2022-01-04 17:31:36.184000 Durga Killing the Demon Mahisha, c. 1890. Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Watercolor, graphite, ink, and tin on paper; secondary support: 50.5 x 32 cm (19 7/8 x 12 5/8 in.); painting only: 45.8 x 28.3 cm (18 1/16 x 11 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.103 title: Durga Killing the Demon Mahisha title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1890 creation date earliest: 1875 creation date latest: 1905 current location: creditline: Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward copyright: --- culture: Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat technique: Watercolor, graphite, ink, and tin on paper department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art collection: Indian Art type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Secondary Support: 50.5 x 32 cm (19 7/8 x 12 5/8 in.); Painting only: 45.8 x 28.3 cm (18 1/16 x 11 1/8 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Indian Kalighat Paintings opening date: 2011-05-01T00:00:00 Indian Kalighat Paintings. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (May 1-September 18, 2011). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * Cleveland Museum of Art, (5/1/11-9/18/11); "Indian Kalighat Paintings"

Main Gallery Rotation (Gallery 242B): April 6, 2016 - --- PROVENANCE William E. Ward [1922-2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art date: ?-2003 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 2003- footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: digital description: A ten-armed Durga stands triumphant as she grabs the hair of the buffalo demon’s true form, one foot on his neck, about to plunge the spear into his heart. Interestingly, the demon wears European buckled shoes; this painting was made in the British enclave then known as Calcutta. Made by artists who sold their works in a goddess temple bazaar, this painting was made with rapid brush strokes and thin paint layers on inexpensive paper. Exuberant in their devotional vitality and visceral color sensibilities, Kalighat paintings achieved acclaim among modern artists of the 20th century. wall description: Believed to be a manifestation of the Great Goddess, the goddess Durga is portrayed here killing Mahisha, a demon in buffalo form. As described in the Devimahatmya (Glorification of the Great Goddess), Mahisha had defeated the gods in heaven. At their request Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma created Durga to defeat him. Durga is depicted here on her vehicle (vahana), the lion, with a sword in her right hand and left foot pressed upon Mahisha’s throat, her face ruddy with intoxication and anticipation, poised to kill him. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.103/2003.103_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.103/2003.103_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.103/2003.103_full.tif