The Goddess Kali (recto); Kali Standing on Shiva (verso), c. 1890. Eastern India, Bengal, Kolkata, Kalighat. Watercolor, graphite, ink, and tin on paper; secondary support: 49.7 x 29.3 cm (19 9/16 x 11 9/16 in.). Black-skinned, four-armed, her tongue out, and blood dripping from her mouth, Kali has a third eyerepresentative of enlightened or divine knowledgeon her forehead. Simultaneously benevolent and dangerous, she holds a sword and a demon’s severed head in two hands while the other two hands are in gestures of protection and blessing. This image would have been sold as a pilgrim souvenir to both locals and the colonial British around the Kalighat temple and is a replica of the image worshipped inside the temple (see below). The frightening image of Kali especially fit into the colonial imagination and into Victorian popular culture and would have been an iconic souvenir/artifact to be shown to intrigued and horrified friends at home in England.
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Image Number: 6145-29078115Royalty FreeCredit Line:Piemags/PL Photography Limited/SuperStockCollection:PL Photography Limited Contributor:Piemags Model Release:NoProperty Release:NoResolution:3400×2738
