Woodcut
ca. 1870 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This example of a popular Sikh woodcut was collected at one of the local fairs or bazaars by John Lockwood Kipling while he was director from 1875 to 1893 of the Mayo School of Art at Lahore, in present-day north-east Pakistan. It was presented to the V&A in 1917 by his famous son, Rudyard. It depicts the Hindu god Shiva and his consort, Parvati, seated beneath a tree preparing opium, with their animal vahanas or vehicles in front of them. The elephant-headed god Ganesh is also seated in front of them, and the goddess Kartikkeya is climbing on the lion’s back. Such woodcuts were made by Sikhs for tourists or pilgrims and this example was clearly intended specifically for Hindu pilgrims.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Woodcut on paper |
Brief description | Sikh woodcut depicting Shiva and Parvati with Nandi, Ganesh, Kartikkeya and a lion, from Lahore or Amritsar, about 1870 |
Physical description | Shiva and Parvati are shown seated, preparing opium, with their animal vehicles before them. Ganesh is seated in front of them and Kartikkeya is climbing on the lion's back . |
Credit line | Given by Rudyard Kipling Esq., Bateman's, Burwash, Sussex |
Object history | Part of an album, containing 196 prints, paintings and pen and pencil drawings together with 37 loose pages of paintings, calligraphic drawings, and outline pen drawings. The collection is mainly composed of native lithograph pictures sold at the local bazaars and fairs of Upper India and Bengal. The album was collected by late J Lockwood Kipling between the years 1865 and 1893. In 1875 he became Principal of the Mayo School of Art, Lahore and held this post until his retirement in 1893. The album was presented to the Museum by his son, Rudyard Kipling in 1917. Given by Rudyard Kipling Esq., Bateman's, Burwash, Sussex. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. R.P. 1917-2627M, R.P. 1917-2705M |
Production | Popular Sikh |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This example of a popular Sikh woodcut was collected at one of the local fairs or bazaars by John Lockwood Kipling while he was director from 1875 to 1893 of the Mayo School of Art at Lahore, in present-day north-east Pakistan. It was presented to the V&A in 1917 by his famous son, Rudyard. It depicts the Hindu god Shiva and his consort, Parvati, seated beneath a tree preparing opium, with their animal vahanas or vehicles in front of them. The elephant-headed god Ganesh is also seated in front of them, and the goddess Kartikkeya is climbing on the lion’s back. Such woodcuts were made by Sikhs for tourists or pilgrims and this example was clearly intended specifically for Hindu pilgrims. |
Collection | |
Accession number | IM.2:165-1917 |
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Record created | March 27, 2003 |
Record URL |
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