Page 81 - Sotheby's Indian Himalayan and Southeast Asian Wroks of Art March 2019
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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION The Goddess Mahakali is the principal deity in the The artist effectively captures Kalika’s fierce
AN ILLUSTRATION DEPICTING THE Tantric pantheon. She is worshipped as the savior aspect as he portrays her dancing the tandava,
GODDESS MAHAKALIKA of good in its continual struggle against evil and the eternal dance of creation and destruction,
clad in a girdle and a garland of severed human
her divine presence signifies the birth of supreme
India, Punjab Hills, circa 1820 conscience and intelligence. In her rudra or angry heads. The inclusion of the heads of Shiva,
Opaque watercolor on paper heightened with gold form, she saves both the Gods and humankind Vishnu and Brahma, the three principal and most
folio: 10½ by 7⅞ in. (26.6 by 20 cm.), unframed innumerable times from the destruction wrought powerful deities in the Hindu pantheon, encircling
image: 7 by 4⅞ in. (17.8 by 12.5 cm.) by demons. Her fearsome form is meant to strike the Goddess’ waist, effectively establishes her
terror at heart of all dark forces. supremacy and announces her status as the
PROVENANCE repository of absolute and universal power.
Sotheby’s New York, March 19, 2008, lot 219.
Private German Collection. $ 20,000-30,000
Acquired from the Royal Library of Mandi in 1969.
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