Four armed Ganesha with a pedestal, decorated with two supporting gana figures. Dieng Plateau, Wonosobo district, Central Java province, 10th century Possibly 1864 - 1867

This photograph by Isidore Kinsbergen captures a 10th-century stone sculpture of a four-armed Ganesha with a pedestal, from the Dieng Plateau in Central Java. The sculpture's form is notably compact and dense, with a monolithic quality emphasized by Kinsbergen’s stark monochrome. Notice how the texture of the stone suggests a rough, elemental materiality. The composition is structured vertically, from the supporting gana figures at the base to the figure of Ganesha, creating a sense of layered support and elevation. The interplay between these supporting figures and the deity above introduces a visual semiotic of weight and burden, juxtaposed with the serene composure of Ganesha. The eroded details and shadow play across the stone’s surface further underscore a sense of time and enduring presence. The sculpture destabilizes the conventional understanding of form through its combination of human, animal, and divine attributes, inviting questions about the nature of representation. This photograph functions as an index, not just of an object but of a cultural and philosophical discourse.