late 1700s
Gum tempera and gold on paper
Overall: 27.8 x 19.7 cm (10 15/16 x 7 3/4 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1966.29
The true form of the crane-demon tumbles out from the backside of the distressed bird.
The Hindu god Vishnu incarnated himself as Krishna in response to pleadings from the Earth goddess to rid her of a wicked king. The king sent demons of many forms to assassinate Krishna, who effortlessly destroyed them. The South Indian artist effectively used a diagonal composition to show the cause and effect of Krishna’s assault and the fall of the defeated demon.
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