Narasimha Kills the Demon-King Hiranyakashipu

1875–80

Not on view

This monochromatic lithograph was printed in one of the first printing workshops in Kolkata (Calcutta) to produce Hindu devotional prints for commercial distribution. In this rendering, undoubtedly drawn by a trained painter, we see Vishnu’s man-lion avatar adorned with a crown revealing himself from within a pillar that has split open. The base and capital of the pillar are adorned with acanthus leaves, a detail familiar to the artist from Victorian colonial architecture in Calcutta. This rare impression may well be the earliest known popular print of this subject and was likely intended for hand-coloring.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Narasimha Kills the Demon-King Hiranyakashipu
Date: 1875–80
Culture: Eastern India, Kolkata, West Bengal
Medium: Lithograph
Dimensions: Image: 9 3/4 in. × 8 in. (24.8 × 20.3 cm)
Sheet: 12 3/4 × 9 1/2 in. (32.4 × 24.1 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Mark Baron and Elise Boisanté, 2015
Object Number: 2015.441.1
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Goddess Jagadhatri, Krishnahari Das, Lithograph, printed in black, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Jagadhatri
Krishnahari Das
ca. 1880

Layla Visiting Majnun in the Desert, Becharam Das Dutta, Lithograph and applied watercolor and selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Kalighat, Calcutta — Layla Visiting Majnun in the Desert
Becharam Das Dutta
August 26, 1856

Janmastami celebrating the birth of Krishna, Calcutta Art Studio, Lithograph printed in black and hand-colored with watercolor, selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Janmastami celebrating the birth of Krishna
Calcutta Art Studio
ca. 1878–83

Goddess Bhairavi, Shib Gobin Lal, Lithograph, printed in black and hand-colored with yellow and pink watercolor. Selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Bhairavi
Shib Gobin Lal
ca. 1870–80

Goddess Matangi, Sasadhar Banarjee Indian, Lithograph, printed in black and hand-colored with watercolor, selectively applied glaze, West Bengal, Calcutta — Goddess Matangi
Sasadhar Banarjee
ca. 1875–85

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.