India | ca. 19th Century
Key Features
A Fierce Figure from Epic & Folkloric Imagination
This striking 19th-century gouache painting depicts a red-skinned demon-like warrior, richly adorned and armed with both mace and sword. Though his exact identity is not named in the surviving record, his attributes echo figures found throughout Indian epic, folk, and temple traditions - embodiments of strength, pride, and formidable opposition to divine forces.
Sword & Mace - Emblems of Power and Confrontation
The figure clasps a curved sword in one hand and a heavy mace in the other, signaling a readiness for battle and an aura of raw aggression. These weapons, paired together, mark him as a formidable opponent - the kind of being divine heroes must subdue to restore cosmic harmony.
Jewelled Ornaments & Regal Bearing
Despite his ferocity, the demon is richly dressed: layered necklaces, gem-studded ornaments, and a golden waistband emphasize a status beyond mere brute force. His deep-red skin and broad stance amplify his intimidating presence, while the jeweled pedestal beneath him signifies power, authority, and a role within mythic narrative cycles.
South Indian Folk-Devotional Aesthetic
Painted in vivid gouache with characteristic jewel tones, this work reflects the devotional visual language of South Indian ateliers - where even fearsome beings are rendered with care, ornamentation, and narrative importance. Such images could be used to tell epic tales, teach moral lessons, or personify forces of chaos to be spiritually overcome.
18 × 24 in Museum-Grade Print
Produced as an 18 × 24 inch poster on 350 GSM archival matte paper, this reproduction preserves the glowing reds, sculptural highlights, and bold silhouette of the original - ideal for collectors of mythic art, storytellers, and devotees drawn to the dramatic tension of Hindu epic imagery.
Why You’ll Love It
This piece brings the dramatic energy of Hindu storytelling into your space - a reminder that every hero rises in response to a worthy challenge. Displaying this figure can inspire resilience, narrative imagination, and the courage to face whatever must be overcome.
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Bring home this commanding red-skinned warrior - a bold symbol of mythic force and the eternal struggle between chaos and balance.
Available in 18 × 24 inches, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.