Parvati nursing Ganesha

Opaque watercolour on paper
Kalighat
Kolkata, ca. 1830

Painting, in opaque watercolour and silver on paper, the Hindu godess Parvati, shown with yellow flesh tones and silver detailed jewellery on her face, arms and neck, is nursing her elephant-headed son Ganesha in her arms.

Historical significance:
Calcutta was recognised as the Capital of British India from 1833-1912. By the 1830s, artists had arrived from rural villages in Bengal and began to produce paintings that reflected local history, mythology, customs and conflicts of a colonised society. As a popular art form, these artists are recognised for their use of brilliant colour, simplified images and swift brushstrokes that became the hallmark of Kalighat painting in the 19th and early 20th century.

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