[GODDESS DURGA]

25-1/8 x 23” in [63.8 x 58.4 cm]

India, signed ‘S.N. Sharma’, date unknown, polychrome gouache on board

verso: stamped ‘Ideal Picture Product, Sivakasi - 626189

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Full-body depiction of the goddess Durga, a warring aspect of the goddess Parvati, riding her vahana or mount, a tiger. The goddess sits on the back of the tiger facing the viewer, and unfolds her eight arms, each of which holds a different weapon or item. Of these, stand out particularly the sudharsana chakra, or serrated disk of Vishnu in the first hand of the left (from top to bottom), and the trishula, Shiva’s trident, in the second hand of the right (again, from top to bottom). These alone are indicative enough of Durga’s martial talents against evil, since she is in fact endowed with all the weapons of the gods. Also salient is the sacred syllable ‘OM’, inscribed in the fourth left hand of the goddess, which she displays to the viewer. In both of the bottom corners, at each side of Durga’s tiger, are traditional offerings of coconuts, holy water and neem leaves. Between the tiger’s feet, a yantra or magic symbol (this triangle in particular is specific of the goddess Durga) bestows good luck on the observer. The background is intricately decorated, with the jyotis or sacred lights forming a sort of halo around the figure of the goddess, in addition to the explicit halo that emanates from behind her head. In polychrome gouache on board, signed by the artist in the image.

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‘Calendar Art’ Paintings of India are the original artworks from which commercial printers created mass-produced popular images. The artworks can be grouped into major themes; religion, alluring women, patriotic national heroes and political leaders, movie stars, divine cherubic babies.

Functioning as pin-ups, calendar illustrations, and altar gods, the printed images can be found throughout 19th, 20th and 21st century India homes, schools, shrines, public halls and workplaces. Displayed within a wide range of contexts this art knows no class boundaries: in living rooms of the prosperous, on urban slum lean-to’s, in village thatched dwellings, framed in middle class kitchens.

The prints of specifically religious nature depict gods, goddesses, epic scenes, saints and sacred sites. Displayed in every kind of shop imaginable (tailor shops, tea stalls, grocery stores), transport (car and taxi dashboards, train conductors perch), upon persons (shirt pockets, wallets, purse), these iconic images are believed to act as talismans offering a means to worship, and, potentially access the divine.

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similar calendar art paintings and/or prints have been exhibited and/or archived at the following venues:

=> Gods in the Bazaar

=> Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia (Vancouver)

=> The British Museum