Page 199 - Eye of the beholder

forms; and appear more as ridiculous characters rather than the awe-inspiring and fearsome which they are expected to be. Comical instead of diabolic, they are engaged in a losing game, where humorous delight is generated at the cost of their plight.
The distinctiveness of this work finds its thematic correspondence with its focus on the linguistic rationale of pictorial expression. Hence space is a two-dimensional world, which is a charged ambience, saturated with hues of red, yellow, occasional blue, and the expansive green of the background, the pictorial field therefore serving as a receptacle for the forms it holds within. In the ‘two-dimensional’ language of colour a predominantly prominent hue is green. Against this background the various characters forming the army of Kumbhakarana as well as the monkey army of Hanuman are placed. Kumbhakarana, who is shown triumphant on the left side of the painting, in his two hands holds a gada and a sword, while the upper part of his body is shown in front view with the legs shown in profile. His fierce countenance is pictorially dictioned with large unblinking eyes, a strong nose and an open mouth with strong lines of teeth. His ears are floppy and large and dotted like his face. He wears a full sleeved orange yellow garment that is divided in the centre for ease of movement. He wears a waist band or kamar bandh which is pink and red in colour and that supports a dagger. There is profusion of pearl jewellery on him. He wears a crown between his two angry horns with a lotus flower supported in the centre. Lower garment comprises of a maroon polka dotted tight fitting pajamas. His feet have anklets made out of black threads. Between his feet lies a baby demon. Since Kumbhakarana is by the river a hungry crocodile props its head out for the feasty bite of the baby demon. Behind him is his grotesque army who is equipped with different kinds of weapons and also coloured differently ranging from blue to maroon to flesh pink and dark grey.
Hanuman is shown slightly smaller than Kumbhakarana and is carrying Rama on his right shoulder and Lakshmana on the left. His two hands carry the shield and gada. He is delineated as a strong robust form, with heavy legs, wearing a lower garment that is burnt orange and his body criss crossed with pearl strands. He wears a skull cap that has criss crossed diamond shaped design. The monkey face is conventional and stylized with large prominent bulging eyes. Between his legs lies a baby monkey that as fallen and a greedy crocodile is moving towards it to make a meal out of him. The blue skinned Rama wears an orange coloured dhoti so also Lakshmana. Both of them wear head gears, which is also the same colour as their garments and dotted with pearl strands. Both the brothers have bow and arrows as their weapons of defense.
Compositionally the artist has taken considerable delight in delineating the grotesque demon army and the monkey sena as well. The forms have a primitive vigour and power of vitality heavily outlined in black. The colours are equally strident and the extensive use of white dots creates decorative patterning that is equally enchanting. Though a war zone, the artist has introduced considerable humour in the comically created faces. A sense of agitated and intense movement is conveyed through the positioning of arms and legs giving a sense of animation. The sky is delineated dark with dark clouds and below is the river painted light grey with ripples in white and infested with crocodiles painted dark green with red murderous tongue and greedy white eyes.
On the left side of the painting, the artist has shown a palace with heavy defensive walls and projecting bastions. The architecture reflects a strong Islamic influence with domes and turrets. It is painted yellow, with doors and windows in red. Interestingly behind the two main protagonists namely Kumbhakarana and Hanuman are the representation of two huge figures who may be important generals of the army. Between the intensity of the war that is raging on both sides, the artist has taken an unusual delight in showing a black snake with its red venomous fangs. The painting is full of interesting details that conveys its own narrative. A painting from Central India titled “Devi Killing the Ashuras” belongs to the 19th century.
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