Art, Symbol & Imagination
Yudhishthira: Nanda Lal Bose’s Contemplative Portrait
A seated figure with a soft halo holds one hand near his chest while the other rests low beside his folded legs. A pale ground and dark surrounding field keep the body clearly outlined. Bose's plate names Yudhishthira, presenting the epic ruler through a quiet, inward posture rather than a battle or royal assembly. The long contour of shoulder, arm and folded leg gives the small composition its continuity. Warm cloth and the cool circular halo separate two kinds of enclosure around the figure. The picture lets the named character's presence occupy the entire scene without relying upon additional narrative actors.
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Citation
Nanda Lal Bose. "Yudhishthira: Nanda Lal Bose’s Contemplative Portrait" [editorial title]. In Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists, Sister Nivedita and Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. Original scan, 1914, George G. Harrap & Co.. Source scan leaf 259. Lumitheca. /gallery/image/hindu-colour-259
Source details
Editorial title and description. Source details from the Library catalogue.
Original source design and caption inspected; composition retained with scan margins trimmed. No reconstructed or recoloured details. Artist credit follows the printed illustration list at active reader leaves 19–20.
Sources
From the book
Myths of the Hindus and BuddhistsSister Nivedita and Ananda K. Coomaraswamy1914More from this book
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The Death of Maricha: K. Venkatappa’s IllustrationRelated illustrations
Cite this illustration
Nanda Lal Bose. Yudhishthira: Nanda Lal Bose’s Contemplative Portrait. Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists. Scan leaf 259. Lumitheca. https://lumitheca.com/gallery/image/hindu-colour-259