Nala and Damayanti

Description

Originally part of a bound album: sold at Swann Galleries in 1985. Acquired by Paul F. Walter by 2005. Part of the Pal Family Collection: sold at Christie's New York in 2008. Sold at Christie's New York in 2011 to Baron/Boisanté. Acquired by Om from India, 2011 to 2021. Purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2021.

Historical context

This poignant lithograph depicts a profound moment of exile from the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. King Nala and Princess Damayanti, having suffered immense hardship and the loss of their kingdom, find a brief sanctuary in the deep woods. While Damayanti rests her weary head upon Nala, the dark, ethereal form of Kali looms in the canopy above, representing the inescapable fate and malevolent influence that continues to haunt their steps. The Calcutta Art Studio masterfully blends Western illustrative techniques with the timeless emotional depth of Indian mythology, capturing the vulnerability of royalty reduced to mendicants, yet bound by enduring devotion.