Durga as demon-slayer

mid-20th century
Not on view
In this powerful depiction of the supreme goddess, produced by an artist trained in the Puri tradition (pattachitra), we see Durga represented as the all-powerful demon-slayer. Wielding an array of weapons in her ten arms, she stands astride her lion-mount and the buffalo carcass she has just slain. Mahisha emerges from the beast’s severed neck, revealing himself in human form. As appropriate to a moment envisaged by a Puri artist, steeped in the Orissan tradition, the setting is that of temple architecture in the distinctive style of the region.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Durga as demon-slayer
  • Date: mid-20th century
  • Culture: India, Odisha (Orissa), Puri
  • Medium: Ink and opaque watercolor on cotton
  • Dimensions: Image: 20 1/4 × 17 15/16 in. (51.5 × 45.5 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Object Number: 2025.515
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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