Aizen Myōō

Cleveland Museum of Art

The image depicts Aizen Myōō, a Japanese Buddhist deity, in a seated position. The statue is made of dark gray stone or wood. The deity has a large head with a second face on top, which has an open mouth and appears to be a separate, smaller face. The main face has a serene expression with closed eyes. The deity sits cross-legged with six arms. The two upper arms are bent at the elbow with fists. The two middle arms cross over the body, with one hand holding what appears to be a small object near the chest. The two lower arms rest on the legs, with the right hand on top of the left. The deity wears a draped robe that covers the left shoulder and has folds carved into the fabric. The background of the image is a gradient from dark gray to black.