Artwork preview

Initiation Card (Tsakalis): Mahakala

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Red square artwork with rounded corners, depicting two figures. The figure on the left has yellow skin and the one on the right has dark brown skin. Both are topless, wearing patterned cloth wrapped around their waists. The yellow figure is kneeling with both knees on the ground with a blue object in both hands. The brown figure stands behind and to the right with their right knee bent. Both figures have a long, thin, curved object on their heads, adorned with small white flowers. The figures are surrounded by a thin gold border, then a thicker red border. Inside the red border, there are blue triangular corners. The background of the artwork is red with green squiggly lines. A black and gold patterned band runs across the bottom. The artwork is titled "Initiation Card (Tsakalis): Mahakala" by an unknown artist.

Artwork Details

Date
early 15th century
Medium
Opaque watercolor on paper
Culture
Tibet
Dimensions
563 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette