Rangoli Art Print – Ardhanarishvara in Balance

Provenance

This Shiva–Shakti inspired rangoli art print depicts 'Ardhanarishvara', the composite form of 'Shiva' and 'Parvati' in which the god and goddess share a single body, divided down the middle. The image expresses the union and interdependence of Shiva and Shakti, the masculine and feminine principles, and has long been represented in Indian sculpture and painting. Here it is set within the circular, petal-edged format of a rangoli and translated into flat geometric planes, the figure seated within a circle that is itself split into cool and warm halves.

The half on the viewer's left belongs to 'Shiva': rendered in indigo, slate and sage, it carries a crescent moon above the head, three horizontal lines with a dot on the brow area, a serpent coiled about the neck, and a trident with a small hourglass drum tied beneath its prongs. The other half belongs to 'Parvati', worked in ochre, rust and terracotta: a round earring, a necklace of pearls, a red garment edged with a band of triangles, long dark hair falling behind, and a single lotus on a tall stem. The faces are left featureless, reduced to two semicircles meeting at the centre line. Below, the folded legs become broad curved forms, and a pair of pale footprints sits at the base of the circle, a familiar devotional motif. Around the medallion, petals in rust, sage, ochre and indigo radiate outward, with dots and pointed finials marking the four directions. Each half is complete in its own symbols, yet only together do they form the figure.

The palette is carefully divided: cool indigo, slate and sage on one side, warm ochre, rust and terracotta on the other, the two meeting cleanly at the centre and echoed in the alternating petals of the outer ring. A soft, mottled texture within each block of colour and the warm parchment ground give the image a gently aged, painted character. That texture belongs to the original design; the Brahm piece is a made-to-order print that reproduces it on a smooth surface.

Disclaimer:

• The frames shown are for display purposes only and are not included with the artwork.
• As these are made-to-order designer pieces, expect minor colour variations from the displayed artwork.