Forms of Vishnu, Kalamkari textile

This large cotton textile is has painted mordant and dye designs depicting scenes of the various incarnations, or avatars, of the Hindu god Vishnu. Known as kalamkari ("pen-work"), textiles of this type and manufacture have been produced in India for centuries, for domestic use as well as for export to Southeast Asia and Europe. This example is from the Coromandel Coast in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, and likely originated around the turn of the 20th century from worshops in Kalahasti or Masulipatam. The composition of this work is divided into six vertical registers contained within a border of round floral repeat designs. A large scene of seated Vishnu, flanked by two standing attendants (possibly Bhu and Shri) is placed in the center of the composition, reaching two registers in height. Above and below this image, individual scenes of Vishnu are represented inside distinct cells within the registers. Text boxes help to delineate the registers, and the text, in Telegu script appears to describe the individual scenes. The textile is painted with iron mordants and vegetable dyes. Most noticable is the use of indigo to paint the blue body of Vishnu. The rest of the palate is restricted to warm brown tones. The cotton ground color is off-white to light brown.