269 - Paubha depicting Guhyakali, a tantric form of Kali, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, 19th century

Paubha depicting Guhyakali, a tantric form of Kali, Nepal, Kathmandu Valley, 19th century Polychrome pigments on canvas, depicting Guhyakali in a monumental, multiplied form. The goddess is depicted in full face, her body surrounded by a vast red field bordered by a bead motif, within which numerous heads and a multitude of arms are displayed. The heads, both human and zoomorphic, are arranged in superimposed registers above the main face, while a ferocious face appears on her abdomen. In front of her torso, her two main hands each hold a small deity, while the other arms extend sideways, holding various attributes and figures. The goddess notably has a third eye and a fierce expression characteristic of her tantric aspect. In the lower section, several deities and zoomorphic creatures, including a serpentine figure, are arranged around her legs and appear to support the deity at her feet; her left foot rests directly on a cow. A turtle is depicted in the lower right corner, among the other figures associated with the composition. In the upper corners, two winged celestial beings appear amid the clouds. The composition as a whole, organized around the central figure and her multiple manifestations, presents a cosmic and tantric depiction of Guhyakālī, whose power is expressed through the proliferation of heads, arms, deities, and creatures surrounding her. 37.5 x 29 cm Framed under glass. Wear on the paint layer, with craquelure, abrasions, and losses.