Calcutta Art Studio Chromolithograph
Region / Date
Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India
1885–1890
Key Features
This rare and visually commanding diptych presents two fierce manifestations of the Divine Feminine from the sacred tradition of the Mahavidyas-the primal expressions of Shakti, cosmic energy itself.
On the left stands Kali, youthful yet terrifying, embodying the raw, unrestrained force of time and dissolution. She stands upon the body of Shiva, a profound Tantric symbol of the dynamic interplay between energy (Shakti) and pure consciousness (Shiva). Her garland of severed heads and bloodied sword signify the destruction of ego, illusion, and worldly attachment.
On the right appears Tara, another powerful Mahavidya associated with protection, fire, and transformation. She stands amidst blazing funeral pyres, adorned with skulls and wearing a tiger skin-attributes that connect her to both death and transcendence. Like Kali, she stands over Shiva, emphasizing the supremacy of Shakti as the active force of the universe.
Together, Kali and Tara represent two complementary aspects of the same cosmic truth:
Kali as time that devours, Tara as the शक्ति that guides through destruction toward liberation.
The charnel ground setting-filled with fire, ash, and symbolic death-serves not as a place of fear, but of transformation. In Tantric philosophy, it is here that illusion dissolves and truth is revealed.
The diptych format itself enhances this duality-two parallel visions of the same ultimate reality, rendered with dramatic contrasts, bold coloration, and the theatrical intensity characteristic of late 19th-century Bengal chromolithographs.
These images were especially revered in Bengal’s devotional culture, where the Mahavidyas are worshipped as fierce protectors who remove obstacles not by gentle means, but through radical transformation.
Museum-Grade Poster Details
Size: 18 × 24 inches
Paper: 350 GSM archival matte paper
Print Quality: High-resolution reproduction preserving chromolithographic richness and dramatic tonal depth
Finish: Non-glare museum matte finish
Ideal For: Shakta practitioners, collectors of Tantric art, and seekers of powerful spiritual imagery
Why You’ll Love It
A rare Mahavidya diptych-intense, symbolic, and deeply transformative in both meaning and presence.
Order Now
Bring home Kali & Tara - Wrathful Protectors, a powerful expression of Shakti, destruction, and liberation.
Available in 18 × 24 inches, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.