Artwork
Shashthi
Shashthi 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
Shashthi is a 19th-century opaque watercolour on paper depicting the goddess Shashthi in a traditional attire, accompanied by two children and a cat, embodying the distinctive style of the Kalighat painting tradition from Calcutta.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Shashthi, is portrayed as a nurturing figure, cradling two children and standing on a cat, symbolizing her role in Hindu mythology as a protector of children and infants. The imagery reflects local mythological themes prevalent during the British colonial era.
Technique & Style
Characterized by vivid colours, simplified forms, and expressive brushstrokes, the painting exemplifies the Kalighat style. Notably, the artist achieves depth and richness through intricate details in jewelry and attire, set against a minimalist background to emphasize the goddess's form.
History & Provenance
Acquired from Miss M Steele, the painting was part of a collection inherited from her mother, tracing its provenance to a British colonial-era collection in Calcutta.
Context
Created during the 19th-century British colonial rule in India, the work contextualizes the adaptation of traditional mythology in art under foreign influence, with the Kalighat style emerging as a unique, accessible form of folk art in Calcutta.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
