Indian Art
In terms of iconography, it is quite obvious that the works of art known as Shiva Nataraja, which is displayed on the Smithsonian's website, and Siva as Lord of Dance, which is displayed on the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston's web site, are depictions of the Hindu god Shiva. One of the most eminent ways in which this information is conveyed, of course, is via the titles of these respective works. However, even if they were untitled, the prudent viewer would recognize them as Shiva. Shiva is the Hindu deity who is not portrayed as anthropomorphic -- the fact that there are multiple arms (far more than two) in each of these works helps to underscore this fact. Additionally, the fact that the physiognomy of the being depicted in both works is male also alludes to the fact that this is a male god, Shiva, "the destroyer of evil" (1).
In both works it appears as though Shiva is dancing. This interpretation of this depiction is largely dependent on the fact...
Ancient Art from Greece and India: A Comparison Art is a cultural phenomenon that perpetuates consistently throughout the world. Each time period and culture has its own artistic sensibility, often connected to the cultural, political and religious values of the time. The art of ancient Greece and India is no exception to this. While significant changes occurred throughout the centuries that could be consider "ancient," a comparison of certain works shows
Admittedly, these two teams were faced with a daunting challenge in acquiring and interpreting those works of art that were most appropriate for their exhibition goals, and interpretive efforts must use some framework in which to present the resources in a fashion that can be understood and appreciated by the targeted audiences. Nevertheless, there is little or no discussion concerning the fusion of artistic styles in the two catalogs, with
Turtle shell rattles have been used for countless centuries. Such rattles have been recovered from ancient sites in the southwest and in the Mississippian civilizations. The turtle rattle was also a musical instrument in ceremonial use. One of its most important functions was its significance in the False Face ceremonies. One of the most distinguishing features of the Iroquois belief system is the reliance on the mask for religious and
The most striking difference of this painting is the extensive use of gold leaf. A matured use of shadow and detail can be seen in this tangka, indicating a later, more developed art form. It lacks the detail to symmetry found in the other two examples as well. This piece provides an excellent contrast to the earlier two Tangka that were examined. it's attention to shading, clear outlines, and
"Over the course of time, there will be a new world era entailing that one day there will a dawn after destruction. This system for the earth continues throughout eternity and is managed by three gods: Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu or the divine trinity." (Eck, 1996) of these, Shiva was or is the destroyer. The Hindu divinities are worshipped through art on temples and in the majority of homes.
While I agree with all of the points that Kaimal makes, I was most interested in her examination of the way in which a single writer -- indeed, a single essay -- can have such a dramatic influence on the way in which art is seen. Coomaraswamy's writing seems to me -- admittedly many generations after he wrote it -- to be rather underwhelming, short on substance and long on
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now