{"product_id":"mahishasura-mardini-in-kalighat-by-uttam-chitrakar-1","title":"Mahishasura Mardini in Kalighat by Uttam Chitrakar","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eThis Kalighat painting by Uttam Chitrakar is a grand portrayal of Maa Durga in her Mahishasura Mardini form. Originating near the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal in the 19th-century, this school of painting is celebrated for its ability to condense epic, cosmic battles into highly rhythmic, visually striking compositions utilizing fluid brushwork and rich, saturated pigments.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the center of this piece is the ten-armed Goddess Durga, standing in a triumphant, powerful stance as the supreme vanquisher of evil. Her countenance features the traditional elongated, almond-shaped eyes, a sharp nose ring and a prominent third eye (trinetra) on her forehead, symbolizing her cosmic energy. She is dressed in a magnificent red sari with white-patterned borders, complemented by blue blouse sleeves. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer head is crowned with a high, ornate golden mukut (crown), and her upper body is adorned with a dense lattice of white pearle necklaces. Her ten arms fan out symmetrically, each hand wielding subtle white line-drawings of her divine weapons. These include pasha and ankusha (noose and elephant goad), dhaushya-baan (bow and arrow), shankha (conchshell) and kamal (lotus). Her main hands forcefully drive her long, silver Trishula (trident) diagonally across the canvas into the heart of the demon. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe narrative unfolds in the lower half of the composition. To the left, the dark-skinned buffalo demon, Mahishasura, is shown in a state of absolute defeat, falling backward with a contorted expression, his torso decorated with detailed white cross-hatched warrior bands. To the right, Durga’s vahana (vehicle), a fierce lion with a golden-yellow face and a striped coat, pounces upon the demon, its jaws open to display its sharp white teeth in a display of protective, divine fury.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe primary battle takes place against a solid, textured lavender-pink background that emphasizes the silhouettes of the figures. This zone is crowned by a large, wavy scalloped archway that mimics a traditional temple shrine or a theatrical stage setting. Above this arch, the canvas transitions into a deep blue sky, densely filled with miniature white stippled dots that create a starry, celestial atmosphere.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe painting features the Kalighat school’s signature economy of line, utilizing broad, sweeping strokes to define the fluid shape of the goddess's posture and fine white line-work to texture the armor, garments and weapons. The color palette is striking yet balanced, relying on the vibrant contrast between the cool lavender and blue backgrounds against the rich, fiery tones of the goddess and her mount. This work beautifully captures the essence of the Kalighat tradition, merging the epic grandeur of the Devi Mahatmyam with the spirited, expressive energy of Bengal’s folk heritage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Uttam Chitrakar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44529169465558,"sku":null,"price":7000.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1194\/1498\/files\/Maa-Durga-with-defeated-demon-Kalighat-by-Uttam-Chitrakar-1.png?v=1725605969","url":"https:\/\/www.memeraki.com\/products\/mahishasura-mardini-in-kalighat-by-uttam-chitrakar-1","provider":"Memeraki Retail and Tech Pvt Ltd.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}