Arjuna’s archery competition and the Ten avatars of Vishnu

1860–70

Not on view

This print has two independent compositions on a single sheet, each depicting Hindu devotional subjects associated with Vishnu. The upper scene depicts a moment from the epic Mahabharata in which Arjuna embarks on an archery competition in order to win Draupadi’s hand in marriage. The Pandava brothers and their wives look on in wonder and celestial celebrants on the rooftop are poised to trumpet on horn and conch Arjuna’s miraculous display. The second composition is devoted to the ten appearances (avatars) of Vishnu, the Dasavatars, much celebrated in medieval and later Hindu art. They are identified from upper left to lower right as: Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parashuram (warrior), Rama (king), Krishna (hero), Jagannatha (triad) and Kalki (future descent). Both compositions bear the name of the artist-studio in devanagari script in the lower margin, Shri Hiranani Kramakar krita, ‘made by Shri Hiranani Kramakar’.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Arjuna’s archery competition and the Ten avatars of Vishnu
Artist: Hira Lal Karmakar (Indian, active 1920s–1940s)
Date: 1860–70
Culture: India, Calcutta
Medium: Relief print from a woodblock or metal plate (xylographic), with hand coloring
Dimensions: Image: 24 1/8 × 16 1/8 in. (61.3 × 41 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Purchase, David E. Stutzman and John D. Lamb Gift, 2020
Object Number: 2021.147
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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