The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 22, 2026

A vertically oriented gum tempera and ink painting depicts Durga, an eight-armed goddess with medium-light skin, standing atop a lion. Wearing a red dress, ornate crown, and green-rayed halo, she holds weapons and grasps the hair of green-skinned Mahisha. Mahisha sprawls across the bottom right, pierced by a spear. The lion has a yellow face and blue-toned body, set against a plain tan background.

Durga Killing the Demon Mahisha

c. 1890

Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat

Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper
Secondary Support: 50.5 x 32 cm (19 7/8 x 12 5/8 in.); Painting only: 45.8 x 28.3 cm (18 1/16 x 11 1/8 in.)
Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.103
Location: Not on view

Description

A ten-armed Durga stands triumphant as she grabs the hair of the buffalo demon’s true form, one foot on his neck, about to plunge the spear into his heart. Interestingly, the demon wears European buckled shoes; this painting was made in the British enclave then known as Calcutta. Made by artists who sold their works in a goddess temple bazaar, this painting was made with rapid brush strokes and thin paint layers on inexpensive paper. Exuberant in their devotional vitality and visceral color sensibilities, Kalighat paintings achieved acclaim among modern artists of the 20th century.
  • ?–2003
    William E. Ward [1922–2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2003–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Ellcock, Stephen. The Book of Change: Images to Inspire Revelations and Revolutions. London: September Publishing, 2021. Reproduced: p. 238
  • Indian Gallery Rotation (Gallery 242B). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (April 6-November 7, 2016)
    Indian Kalighat Paintings. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 1-September 18, 2011).
  • {{cite web|title=Durga Killing the Demon Mahisha|url=false|author=|year=c. 1890|access-date=22 April 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.103