Artwork preview

The Goddess Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon, Mahisha (Mahishasura Mardini)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a drawing of a woman riding a tiger and killing a large buffalo-like creature. The woman has multiple arms and is wearing a crown, with a sword in one hand and a spear in another. She wears a short skirt and has a necklace around her neck. The buffalo-like creature is large, with a human-like face and a buffalo-like body. It appears to be lying on the ground, with blood visible around it. Three smaller creatures with clubs are around the buffalo-like creature. In the background, there are some green lines that may represent grass or water, and a cliffside with a few people sitting on it. A chariot with a wheel is visible on the top right. The drawing is done in black, red, and green ink on a beige background. The woman's facial expression appears fierce. The overall scene suggests a battle or fight between good and evil.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1760
Medium
Ink, transparent and opaque watercolor on paper
Culture
India (Rajasthan, Mewar)
Dimensions
521 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette