ANCIENT REGION OF GANDHARA, SWAT VALLEY, 3RD-4TH CENTURY CE

The present figure represents a yakshi, or female nature spirit, integrated into early Buddhism by way of Indian mythology. Tutelary figures of fertility, yakshi are commonly portrayed as voluptuous figures standing in a sinuous tribhanga pose, with an arm overstretched to reach a blossoming tree. However, in the ancient region of Gandhara, the standard composition is mimicked with more modest female proportions. Architectural figures of yakshi, such as the present example, frequently served as compositional barriers between narrative relief panels, often dedicated to the life of Buddha.