id: 162498 accession number: 2003.148 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2003.148 updated: 2023-02-02 13:00:21.171000 Brahma, c. 1890. Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper; painting only: 45.1 x 27.7 cm (17 3/4 x 10 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.148 title: Brahma 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: Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art collection: Indian Art type: Painting find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Painting only: 45.1 x 27.7 cm (17 3/4 x 10 7/8 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 --- 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: Brahma once had five heads, but the god Shiva decapitated one of them. digital description: The god of creation has four arms and four heads. The manuscript in his upper right hand indicates that he is the source of sacred knowledge as the quintessential Brahman. The lotus flower in his lower right hand references birth and procreation. He would typically hold a rosary and water pot in his left hands, which are here difficult to clearly identify given the cursory style of Kalighat painitngs. His mount, the goose, examines the ground at his feet. wall description: --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.148/2003.148_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.148/2003.148_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2003.148/2003.148_full.tif