Cleveland Museum of Art

Shiva under trees

Date

c. 1780

Medium

Gum tempera on paper

Culture

Northern India, Pahari kingdoms

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Cut from a larger composition, this fragment shows the god Shiva who has come down to earth. He seems alluringly approachable despite his white body, the snake around his neck, his third eye, trident weapon, animal-skin garment, and the crescent moon at his brow. Set off against a flat red background, he stands under two shade trees that make his manifestation on earth believable. One tree is entwined around the other, metaphorically suggesting the physical love Shiva seems to wistfully desire.

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