Portrait of a Tibetan Lama, possibly the Seventh Dalai Lama c. 19th century

This gilded bronze statuette, likely crafted by a Chinese artist, portrays a Tibetan Lama, perhaps the Seventh Dalai Lama. Observe his right hand, raised in the gesture of vitarka mudra, the sign of teaching and intellectual argument, holding a lotus stem. This motif, echoing across millennia, reminds us of similar hand gestures in Hellenistic art, or even the raised hand of a Roman orator. Here, the lotus, emerging from muddy waters to bloom, symbolizes spiritual purity. The gesture and the lotus together become a compelling invitation to engage with complex ideas, promising enlightenment. It’s a visual echo connecting cultures across time, underscoring the cyclical nature of symbols. These symbols resurface and evolve, each time carrying the weight of collective memory.