Ganesha

The painting follows the Kalighat school of Calcutta, noted for rapid brushwork, simplified forms and vivid, unmodulated colour fields. The artist employed opaque water‑colour to achieve flat planes of blue skin, bright yellow background and stark white‑red facial detailing, creating an instantly legible image.

Created in Calcutta when the city functioned as the capital of British India, the piece reflects a period when local artisans produced affordable devotional images for a growing urban market. Its survival suggests it entered a collection of colonial‑era artworks, though specific ownership records are not documented.

Kalighat paintings emerged from the bustling shrine precincts along the Ganges, catering to pilgrims and residents alike. This work exemplifies how indigenous religious iconography was rendered in a style that appealed to both native audiences and colonial observers, bridging devotional practice and commercial art.