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Lot Essay
Sita Devi (1914-2005) is recognized as one of the most prominent Mithila style artists in history. The Mithila, or Madhubani, style of painting had been practiced by women in Bihar for generations. Historically they were produced as floor and wall paintings performed during festivals, often using tools such as fingers, twigs, and matchsticks with natural dyes and pigments. As the style gained some attention in the mid-twentieth century, a government sponsored program was founded to encourage the artists to earn an income by painting their works on paper for sale. Many of these works were sold through government handicraft galleries, such as the Bihar Emporium where the present lots were acquired, and influenced the style to reach international acclaim.
By the 1970s, individual Mithila artists began to be recognized on the national and international stages. Sita Devi fast became one of the most prominent among them. Her distinct style became known as the bharni style of Mithila painting, with an emphasis on strong colors and forms over lines. Not only did she paint celebrated paintings of gods and goddesses, but on her travels she created amazing images of American landmarks such as the World Trade Center, the New York skyline and Arlington National Cemetery. The present lots deviate slightly from her typical bharni style, representing portraits of Hindu deities in a relatively subdued color palette. This images represent Durga, upon her lion tiger vehicle, and the other shows Ardhanarishvara, the combined form of Shiva and Parvati. The image of Ardhanarishvara is particularly inventive, presenting the figure from multiple perspectives, Parvati in profile and Shiva facing forward. The same image was painted on the walls of Sita Devi’s home in Jitwarpur and photographed there in 1984.
Paintings by Sita Devi are held in the collections of esteemed institutions throughout the world, including countless works in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, among many others. A painting of similar size and style, with Krishna fluting between two gopis sold at Saffron Art, 26 February 2013, lot 41.
By the 1970s, individual Mithila artists began to be recognized on the national and international stages. Sita Devi fast became one of the most prominent among them. Her distinct style became known as the bharni style of Mithila painting, with an emphasis on strong colors and forms over lines. Not only did she paint celebrated paintings of gods and goddesses, but on her travels she created amazing images of American landmarks such as the World Trade Center, the New York skyline and Arlington National Cemetery. The present lots deviate slightly from her typical bharni style, representing portraits of Hindu deities in a relatively subdued color palette. This images represent Durga, upon her lion tiger vehicle, and the other shows Ardhanarishvara, the combined form of Shiva and Parvati. The image of Ardhanarishvara is particularly inventive, presenting the figure from multiple perspectives, Parvati in profile and Shiva facing forward. The same image was painted on the walls of Sita Devi’s home in Jitwarpur and photographed there in 1984.
Paintings by Sita Devi are held in the collections of esteemed institutions throughout the world, including countless works in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, among many others. A painting of similar size and style, with Krishna fluting between two gopis sold at Saffron Art, 26 February 2013, lot 41.