Goddess Bhairavi 1870 - 1880

This is Shib Gobin Lal's "Goddess Bhairavi," an intriguing work on paper. The composition centers on Bhairavi, her pink skin immediately drawing our gaze. The color palette, dominated by muted yellows and pinks, creates a dreamlike, ethereal quality. Lal's use of line is meticulous, defining the elaborate details of Bhairavi's crown, jewelry, and the surrounding architecture. The multiple arms of the goddess, each holding symbolic objects, disrupt traditional perspective, creating a dynamic sense of movement. The flatness of the picture plane, combined with this rejection of conventional perspective, challenges Western notions of representation. Lal flattens the space, inviting us to reconsider our own cultural codes and assumptions about depth and form. We might consider how the semiotic system of signs invites us to look beyond the surface and explore the deeper cultural narratives embedded within the artwork.