Who painted Lava and Kusha carrying Hanuman?

Lava and Kusha carrying Hanuman was painted by Unknown in 1885.

Where can I see Lava and Kusha carrying Hanuman?

Lava and Kusha carrying Hanuman is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Lava and Kusha carrying Hanuman?

Lava and Kusha carrying Hanuman is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Lava and Kusha carrying Hanuman

Unknown , 1885

Lava and Kusha carrying Hanuman is a paint painting by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1885, this opaque watercolor on paper portrays two figures identified as Lava and Kusha, the twin sons of Rama and Sita, carrying a bound Hanuman on a pole. The composition is set beneath a broad‑leafed tree, with a muted blue‑green backdrop that frames the scene in a straightforward, narrative style.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment from the Ramayana where the heroic monkey Hanuman, having been subdued, is presented as a gift to Sita. By showing the twins transporting the captured deity, the work alludes to Sita’s later years spent in exile, emphasizing themes of loyalty, familial duty, and the complexities of divine intervention.

Technique & Style

Executed in opaque watercolor, the artist employs a limited palette of bright yellows, oranges, and whites, delineating the figures with clean, defined lines. The figures are rendered in a slightly rigid pose, and the tree trunk is depicted with dark tones and minimal branching, lending a stylized, almost illustrative quality to the composition.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the museum’s collection in 1894, purchased from Miss M. Steele, whose family maintained connections with India and engaged in Sanskrit scholarship. This acquisition reflects the Victorian era’s interest in Indian epics and the growing market for artworks that visualized literary narratives from the subcontinent.

Context

During the late 19th century, British artists increasingly turned to Indian mythology for subject matter, often interpreting scenes through a Western lens. This work exemplifies that trend, merging traditional narrative content with the watercolor techniques prevalent in European academic painting, thereby bridging cultural storytelling with contemporary artistic practice.