Shiva en Parvati 1810 - 1830

This Indian miniature painting depicts Shiva and Parvati, rendered with watercolor. Shiva, with his blue skin, sits regally upon a tiger pelt, adorned with snakes, symbols of potent energy and transformation. Consider the serpent: here, it is a necklace and a crown, a sign of power, divine knowledge, and control over primal instincts. This motif echoes through time, from the Egyptian Uraeus worn by pharaohs to the Greek Caduceus, each instance a symbol of authority and healing. In other contexts, the serpent represents chaos, temptation, and the dark unknown. Snakes engage us on a subconscious level, evoking both fear and fascination, representing the cyclical nature of death and rebirth. This painting is not merely a depiction of deities, but also a timeless representation of human fears, aspirations, and the enduring power of symbols across cultures.