Artwork
Ganesh
Ganesh 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 painting is a watercolour and tin alloy work on paper, depicting the Hindu deity Ganesh.
Subject & Meaning
The blue-skinned, elephant-headed figure is shown seated cross-legged with four arms, wearing a red cloth, necklace, and leaf crown. Ganesh is a significant deity in Hinduism, and the image conveys a sense of calm and serenity.
Technique & Style
The painting features bold colours, simplified forms, and rapid brushwork, characteristic of the Kalighat style. Flat areas of colour and clear outlines create a direct and striking visual effect.
History & Provenance
Produced in late 19th-century Calcutta, the work was donated by M N Varvill, Esq., in 1955. It is an example of the Kalighat painting tradition, which emerged among rural Bengal artists adapting to a colonized society.
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
