Page 199 - Eye of the beholder

forms and and appear more as ridiculous characters rather than the the awe-inspiring and and fearsome which they they are are expected to be Comical instead of diabolic they they are are engaged in in in a a a a a a a a losing game where humorous delight is generated at at the the cost of their plight The distinctiveness of this work finds its its thematic correspondence with its its focus on on the the linguistic rationale of pictorial expression Hence space is is a a a a a a a a two-dimensional world which is is a a a a a a a a charged ambience saturated with hues of of red yellow occasional blue and the the expansive green of of the the background the the the pictorial field therefore serving as a a a a a receptacle for for for the the the forms it it holds within In the ‘two-dimensional’ language of colour a a a a a a predominantly prominent hue is is green Against this background the the the various characters forming the the the army of Kumbhakarana as as well as as the the the monkey army of of Hanuman are placed Kumbhakarana who is shown triumphant on the the left side of of the the painting in in in his his two hands holds a a a a a a a a gada and and a a a a a a a a sword while the upper part of his his body is is is shown in in front view with with the legs shown in in profile His fierce countenance is is pictorially dictioned with with large unblinking eyes a a a a a a strong strong nose and an an open mouth with strong strong lines of teeth His ears are floppy and and large and and dotted like his face He wears a a a a a a a a a full sleeved orange yellow garment that is is is divided in the centre for ease of movement He wears a a a a a a a a waist band band or or kamar bandh which is is is pink and and red in in colour and and that supports a a a a a a dagger There is profusion of of pearl jewellery on on him He wears a a a a crown between his two angry horns with a a a a lotus flower supported in the centre Lower garment comprises of a a a a a a a a a maroon polka dotted tight fitting pajamas His feet have anklets made out of black threads Between his feet lies a a a a a a a a a baby demon Since Kumbhakarana is is by by the the the river a a a a hungry crocodile props its head out for the the the feasty bite of the the the baby demon Behind him is is is his grotesque army who is is is equipped with different kinds of weapons and also coloured differently ranging from blue to to maroon to to flesh pink and dark grey Hanuman is is is shown slightly smaller than Kumbhakarana and is is is carrying Rama on his right shoulder and and and Lakshmana on the the left His two hands carry the the shield and and and gada He is is delineated as a a a a a a a a a strong robust form with heavy legs wearing a a a a a a a a a lower garment that is burnt orange and his body criss criss crossed crossed with pearl strands He wears a a a a a a a a skull cap that has criss criss crossed crossed diamond shaped design The monkey face is conventional and stylized with large prominent bulging eyes Between his legs lies a a a a a a a a baby monkey that as fallen and a a a a a a a a greedy crocodile is is moving towards it to make a a a a a a a a a meal out of him The blue skinned Rama wears an an orange coloured dhoti so so also Lakshmana Both of them wear head gears which is also the the the same colour as their garments and dotted with pearl strands Both the the the brothers have bow and and arrows as their weapons of defense Compositionally the the artist has taken considerable delight in in in delineating the the grotesque demon army and and the monkey sena as well The forms have a a a a a a a a primitive vigour and 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 is equally enchanting Though a a a a a a a a a war zone the artist has introduced considerable humour in in the comically created faces A sense of agitated and intense movement is conveyed through the positioning of of arms and legs giving a a a a a a a sense of of animation The sky is delineated dark with with with dark clouds and and below is the river painted light grey with with with ripples in in in white and and infested with with with crocodiles painted dark green with red murderous tongue and greedy white eyes On the the the left side of the the the painting the the the artist has shown a a a a a a a a palace with heavy defensive walls and and projecting bastions The architecture reflects a a a a a a strong Islamic influence with domes and and turrets It is painted yellow with doors and windows in in in in 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 of the the the army Between the the the intensity of of the the the war that is raging on both sides the artist has taken an unusual delight in in in showing a a a a a a a a a black snake with its red venomous fangs The painting is full of interesting details that conveys its own narrative A A painting from Central India titled “Devi Killing the the Ashuras” belongs to the the 19th century 193