Kali on Shiva, from a Tantric Devi Series
Unknown Artist
c. 1810
Medium
gum tempera and gold on paper
Dimensions
20.3 × 26 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Nancy and Wayne Hunnicutt
Accession Number
2014.650
About this artwork
The goddess Kali kneels in the posture reserved for wrathful deities ready for battle. In one hand she holds the sword she used to sever the demon head she triumphantly grasps in another hand. As the personification of divine energy—shakti in Sanskrit—Kali appears active, while the male principle, personified as her consort Shiva, is like a corpse (shava). The scene is set in a cremation ground, complete with vultures, jackals, and bones. Contemplation of paintings such as this assists followers...