Who painted Mahabir. Rama and Lakshmana?

Mahabir. Rama and Lakshmana was painted by Unknown in 1890.

Where can I see Mahabir. Rama and Lakshmana?

Mahabir. Rama and Lakshmana is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Mahabir. Rama and Lakshmana?

Mahabir. Rama and Lakshmana is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Mahabir. Rama and Lakshmana

Unknown , 1890

Mahabir. Rama and Lakshmana 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

The work is a watercolor and tin‑alloy painting on paper that portrays the Hindu hero Mahabir, identified with the monkey‑god Hanuman, bearing the brothers Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders. The composition is rendered in vivid hues with clear, unmodulated color fields and strong outlines, set against a largely empty background that isolates the figures.

Subject & Meaning

The scene draws from the Ramayana narrative in which Hanuman transports the exiled princes across the sea to rescue Sita. By emphasizing the physical strength of Mahabir and the regal bearing of Rama, the image underscores themes of devotion, heroic assistance, and divine intervention within the epic.

Technique & Style

Executed in the Kalighat school of 19th‑century Calcutta, the painting employs bold, flat colors, simplified forms, and brisk brushwork typical of the genre. Dark contour lines define the muscular bodies, while the lack of shading creates a graphic, two‑dimensional effect that aligns with the commercial, print‑like aesthetic of Kalighat artists.

History & Provenance

The piece entered the museum collection through a 1955 donation by M. N. Varvill, Esq. It reflects the broader practice of Bengali painters who, during the colonial era, adapted traditional mythological subjects to a modern visual language that appealed to both local and European audiences.

Context

Kalighat paintings emerged around the 1850s as a response to the bustling pilgrimage site of the Kalighat temple, where artists produced affordable works for travelers. The style merged indigenous iconography with influences from European printmaking, documenting social change while preserving religious narratives.