The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 25, 2024
Kali
900s–1000s
(900-13th century)
Overall: 46.7 x 20.4 x 15.4 cm (18 3/8 x 8 1/16 x 6 1/16 in.); Base: 11.4 x 15.2 cm (4 1/2 x 6 in.)
The Norweb Collection 1956.7
Location: 244 Indian and Southeast Asian
Description
The female aspect of Shiva, the goddess Parvati, has her own cycle of myths, and she herself emanates into different forms. Some branches of Hinduism consider the goddess to be the supreme creator divinity herself, who generated all the other gods, including Shiva. This bronze sculpture could have been affiliated with either branch. Kali is the wrathful form of the goddess generated in the midst of a battle with a demon that the gods failed to conquer. Kali was to drink his blood before any drop fell to ground, or else a new demon would instantly be generated. The demons are metaphors for human vices, such as egotistic pride and arrogance.- ?-1956Mrs. R. Henry [Emery May Holden] Norweb [1895-1984], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art1956-The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- {{cite web|title=Kali|url=false|author=|year=900s–1000s|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1956.7