Who painted Rama, Kusha and Lava?

Rama, Kusha and Lava was painted by Unknown in 1885.

Where can I see Rama, Kusha and Lava?

Rama, Kusha and Lava is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Rama, Kusha and Lava?

Rama, Kusha and Lava is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Rama, Kusha and Lava

Unknown , 1885

Rama, Kusha and Lava 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. Created in 1885, this work combines watercolour with tin alloy on paper to portray a dramatic encounter from Hindu mythology.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1885, this work combines watercolour with tin alloy on paper to portray a dramatic encounter from Hindu mythology. The composition centers on the hero Rama as he confronts his two sons, Kusha and Lava, in a stylised, brightly coloured scene. The painting entered the museum’s collection through a 2023 acquisition record, noting its donation by Ernest H. Hindley of Lightcliffe, Highgate.

Subject & Meaning

The narrative illustrates a moment when Rama, the legendary king of Ayodhya, engages in combat with his offspring, a story drawn from the epic Ramayana that explores themes of duty, identity, and reconciliation. By presenting the father and sons in direct conflict, the image invites reflection on the complexities of familial obligation and divine destiny within the tradition.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour with added tin alloy pigments, the piece employs flat, saturated hues and bold outlines that leave no room for chiaroscuro.

Executed in watercolour with added tin alloy pigments, the piece employs flat, saturated hues and bold outlines that leave no room for chiaroscuro. Figures are rendered in simplified forms: a yellow‑skirted figure with an orange sash and a red‑white hat holds an object, a rearing blue horse occupies the background, and two green‑skinned characters sit on a small animal. The overall effect is graphic and immediate, characteristic of the Kalighat school’s commercial prints.

History & Provenance

The painting’s documented provenance begins with its creation in the late nineteenth century and continues to a recorded donation by Ernest H. Hindley, Esq., of Lightcliffe, Shepherd’s Hill, Highgate. Museum acquisition files from a 2023 provenance research project confirm Hindley’s gift, providing a clear chain of custody into the current public collection.

Context

The work belongs to the Kalighat tradition of Bengal, a genre that emerged in the mid‑1800s around the Kalighat temple in Calcutta. Artists of this school produced affordable, mass‑produced prints for pilgrims, employing a distinctive visual language of flat colour, strong contour lines, and narrative brevity. This painting reflects those conventions while adapting a classical Hindu episode for a broader audience.