The Goddess as Chinnamasta

Currently not on view

The Goddess as Chinnamasta

1939?

Artist/maker unknown , possibly Narendra, Indian?, Indian or Bangladeshi

Drawing on an ancient Hindu religious story for its subject matter, this dramatic watercolor depicts the goddess decapitating herself and feeding her hungry attendants with her blood. The pattern of triangles in the background is a yantra, the geometric visualization of the Goddess herself. The subject and figures are drawn from "miniature" paintings of North India, while the red signature stamp shows the interest in East Asia by artists of the Bengal School. Over the stamp is written in Bengali "Narendra" and the Bengali date "Agrahayon '46," equivalent to November-December 1939.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

The Goddess as Chinnamasta

Date:

1939?

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown , possibly Narendra, Indian?, Indian or Bangladeshi

Medium:

Opaque watercolor and bronze metallic paint on paper

Dimensions:

Sheet: 11 1/8 × 7 7/16 inches (28.3 × 18.9 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994

Accession Number:

1994-148-545

Geography:

Made in India, Asia Probably made in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), West Bengal, India, Asia

Context:

Period: Modern Period

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Currently not on view