Shiva Ardhanarisvara c. 1700 - 1750

toned paper

childish illustration

water colours

pastel soft colours

handmade artwork painting

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

cartoon carciture

cartoon theme

watercolor

This 18th-century Indian painting depicts Shiva Ardhanarisvara, a Hindu deity that represents the union of the masculine and feminine energies of the universe. The deity, a composite figure with Shiva's right half and Parvati's left, sits on a reclining tiger, symbolizing Shiva's control over the wild forces of nature. The painting uses vibrant colors and detailed rendering to create a visually striking representation of this important Hindu deity. The artist's identity remains unknown, highlighting the rich tradition of anonymous artistry within Indian art.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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In this hypnotic image, the Hindu god Shiva and his wife Parvati share one body, in the form known as Ardhanarisvara, ‘lord whose half is woman.’ It reveals Shiva as a symbol of his omnipotence, the seed and womb of all creation and destruction. Here, a razor-sharp vertical divides and unites the image, with the artist depicting the respective halves with individualized dimensionality. Shiva assumes the role of bearded ascetic, wearing a garland of skulls, with his attributes, the trident, kettle-drum, and bull vehicle, Nandi, at his side. His right hand tames a snake while another serpent wraps Shiva’s topknot, which in turn, catches the river goddess Ganga on her decent from heaven to the earth. Parvati, herself a manifestation of Devi (The Great Goddess), and embodiment of Shakti (female energy), is princess and daughter of the Himalaya—the source of the Ganges River and abode of the loving holy family. The mauve mountain and exuberant, lotus-filled pool are typical of the Bundi school in Rajasthan, and respectively represent Lake Manasarovar and Mt. Kailash in Tibet.