Accession Number
2007/2.124

Title
Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the People of the World: Incarnations (Avatars) Nine and Ten of Vishnu and Shiva

Artist(s)
Bernard Picart

Artist Nationality
French (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1722

Medium & Support
copper plate engraving on paper

Dimensions
16 9/16 in x 10 1/4 in (42.1 cm x 26.1 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Professor Walter M. and Nesta R. Spink

Label copy

The top two images depict avatars of the Hindu deity Vishnu. On the left, Vishnu is being worshipped by two gures. In the image on the right, he appears in the form of Kalki.
The image on the bottom illustrates devotees worshipping the Hindu deity Shiva in the form of an upright, conical linga—an abstract or aniconic (symbolic rather than representational) form of Shiva that connotes his energy and potential. 

Subject matter
The top two images depict avatars of the Hindu deity Vishnu. On the left, Vishnu is being worshipped by two figures. In the image on the right, he appears in the form of his avatar Kalki. The image on the bottom illustrates devotees worshipping the Hindu deity Shiva in the form of an upright, conical linga—an abstract or aniconic, a symbolic form of Shiva that is a symbol of his energy and potential.

Physical Description
This print has two scenes on the top half with one larger scene taking up the bottom half of the print. Each depicts an incarnation of a deity.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Primary Object Type
intaglio print

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Hinduism
copper engraving (printing process)
deities