Mohini Playing with a Ball
Raja Ravi Varma
The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation
Bengaluru, India
Chapter 12 of the Eighth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam describes the episode when the feminine form (avatar) of Lord Vishnu mesmerized Lord Shiva. Mohini manifested herself in the presence of Lord Shiva and his consort Uma in a forest of trees with pink flowers wearing a shining saree and playing with a ball. Verse 21 of Chapter 12, states that as Mohini played with the Ball, her saree came loose and her hair scattered. Raja Ravi Varma captures this moment in this painting. Mohini is depicted as a youthful girl playing with the ball as her saree falls. Raja Ravi Varma painted several versions of this pose, one of which is used as an exemplar for the chromolithograph, Tilottama which was printed at the Ravi Varma Press.
- Title: Mohini Playing with a Ball
- Creator: Raja Ravi Varma
- Location: India
- Physical Dimensions: 95.2 x 58.4 cms
- Type: Painting
- Original Source: Collection of Mr V C Burman
- Rights: Curatorial rights: The Ganesh Shivaswamy Foundation, Bengaluru
- External Link: Raja Ravi Varma
- Medium: Oil on Canvas Board
- Creator's Lifetime: 1848-04-29/1906-10-02
- Creator's Biography: Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) was a prolific Indian artist who is recognized for his resorting to the academic realistic style of painting. His portraits of English and Indian royalty and aristocracy were well received. His paintings on Hindu religious and mythological subjects and paintings from classical and literary sources were highly sought after even during his lifetime. He painted several copies of his works and this demand led to the suggestion to have his paintings printed in the form of oleographs. The Ravi Varma Fine Art Lithographic Press was established in Bombay (now Mumbai) and commenced operations in 1894. Many of Ravi Varma's paintings were printed as chromolithographs at this Press. These chromolithographs would have a tremendous impact on religion, society and aesthetics. They went on to democratize art leading to immortalize Ravi Varma in the minds of the people of the Indian subcontinent.
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