Mahisasuramardini

Reverse-glass art was originally introduced to the Indian subcontinent in the eighteenth century by Chinese or Parsi traders along the western coast, but their popularity spread in the next one hundred years. When choosing pictures that would sell in the markets of Calcutta, the <i>pat</I> watercolour paintings were used as template, perhaps for their relatively uncomplicated iconography. All paintings comprise a similar palette, primarily of red and blue pigments, with a generic mountain added to the backdrop. Themes included the depiction of goddesses like Jagaddhatri or Mahisasuramardini, depicted here killing the buffalo demon.