Accession Number
2015/2.137

Title
Ritual Eye-bestowal Painting Depicting Two Deceased Tribal Persons and a Death-delivering Demon

Artist(s)
Indian

Artist Nationality
Indian (South Asian)

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
transparent and opaque color on paper

Dimensions
16 in x 40 1/4 in (40.64 cm x 102.24 cm)

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

Label copy
Anonymous
Ritual eye-bestowal painting depicting two deceased
tribal persons and a death-delivering demon
India, West Bengal, Midnapur district, or Bihar, Santal Parganas district
20th century
Transparent and opaque color on paper
Gift of Professor Walter M. and Nesta R. Spink, 2015/2.137

Subject matter
The male and female figures are Santals, or deceased spirits, who have been given eyes in the drawing by the Jadupatua, the ritual artist. The eyes as well as the vessels next to them are given to help them in the afterlife. The demon, or pishacha, is surrounded by animals that give it powers. The Jadupatua is said to display a painting of a pishacha upon request by the deceased person's family while recounting that the relative died by drinking water contaminated by the urine of the demon's possessed animal. The Jadapatua is given the animal and water vessel and hence acts as a deliverer. These paintings also serve a didactic purpose, reminding people to accumulate enough good deeds. 

Physical Description
Two men and a green anthropomorphic figure with a goat, cow, and bird.

Primary Object Classification
Drawing

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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