Who painted Savitri and Yama?

Savitri and Yama was painted by Unknown in 1890.

Where can I see Savitri and Yama?

Savitri and Yama is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Savitri and Yama?

Savitri and Yama is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Savitri and Yama

Unknown , 1890

Savitri and Yama 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 1890 watercolour on paper portrays the mythic encounter between Savitri and Yama, the deity of death, as narrated in the Mahabharata. The composition captures Savitri’s desperate appeal to the god to restore her husband Satyavan’s life, a moment of intense emotional pleading rendered in delicate pigment.

Subject & Meaning

The work illustrates the legendary Indian heroine Savitri, shown kneeling in a white sari, her hands clasped in supplication before Yama, who is seated on a low platform. The scene embodies themes of devotion, perseverance, and the triumph of love over mortality, reflecting the moral of the ancient tale.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the artist employs subtle contrasts of light and shadow to delineate the figures, allowing Savitri’s luminous garment to stand out against the darker tones surrounding Yama. Fine brushwork conveys the texture of the sari and the solemn atmosphere of the divine encounter.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the Victoria and Albert Museum through the bequest of Ernest H. Hindley, Esq., of Lightcliffe, Shepherd’s Hill, Highgate, N. Its acquisition is documented in the museum’s Asia Department registers and Central Inventory, recorded during a 2023 provenance research initiative.

Context

Rooted in the Mahabharata’s episode of Savitri’s confrontation with death, the image reflects 19th‑century European interest in Indian mythology and the broader Orientalist trend of depicting exotic narratives for Western audiences.