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:			

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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: 

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CREATORS

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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:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Indian Kalighat Paintings
	opening date:   2011-05-01T00:00:00
	<i>Indian Kalighat Paintings</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (May 1-September 18, 2011).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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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: 	


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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:

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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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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