Artwork
Durga and Ganesha
Durga and Ganesha is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour and tin alloy on paper painting depicts Durga, a Hindu goddess, accompanied by the infant Ganesha, in the distinctive Kalighat style, characterized by bold, flat colors and simplified forms.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Durga, serene and multi-limbed, cradling Ganesha, conveying a scene of maternal devotion. Durga, often depicted battling evil, is here shown in a rare, gentle role, emphasizing her nurturing aspect.
Technique & Style
Executed in the Kalighat style, this work features rapid brushwork, vivid yet flat colors (notably green, red, and yellow), and minimal shading, reflecting the tradition's emphasis on accessibility and narrative clarity.
History & Provenance
Donated to the collection by M N Varvill in 1955, the painting's pre-donation history is not detailed here, though its style situates its creation within 19th-century Calcutta.
Context
Emerging from colonised Bengal in the 19th century, Kalighat paintings like this one navigated local mythology and societal commentary, adapting traditional themes for a potentially broader, colonially influenced audience.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
