Minneapolis Institute of Art

Head from an image of Vishnu or a deified king

Khmer artist

Date

early 9th century

Medium

Gray sandstone

Culture

Khmer

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This powerfully carved head reflects the concept of the God-King (Deva-Raja), a system of statecraft that originated in India but was taken to new heights during the Khmer Empire (802–1437 CE). Despite being consecrated under the protection of the Hindu deity Shiva, the Khmer identified most closely with Vishnu, preserver of universal order. In fact, the deity often took on the likeness of individual Khmer rulers. In a fragment such as this, which is missing bodily attributes such as multiple arms, it is difficult to distinguish between divine human and god. In keeping with the period’s style, crisply detailed hair frames a face of steely perfection, with a detached yet eternal smile and an inner benevolence radiating from faintly chiseled eyes. Cambodia, Asia

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