Shakyamuni Buddha c. 18th century

This thangka painting of Shakyamuni Buddha was created by artists from the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Considered the seat of the Panchen Lama, the Monastery was, and still is, a vital cultural and religious institution in Tibet. Thangkas, like this one, were often commissioned by monasteries to teach Buddhist principles to the monastic community and laypeople alike. The imagery creates meaning through visual codes. Notice the central figure of Shakyamuni Buddha in the center, surrounded by scenes from his life and other Buddhist deities. Tibet's religious institutions shaped artistic production. The Monastery influenced the style, iconography, and function of the painting. Art historians can look to records from the monastery itself, religious texts, and oral histories to understand how this painting functioned within the social context of the time. The painting’s meaning is contingent on these specific cultural and institutional factors.