Early 20th Century Shiva Parvati Ganesha Chromolithograph | Shankar

This rare early 20th-century chromolithograph depicts Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha in a regal, courtly composition, presenting the divine family as a royal household rather than in the more familiar ascetic or domestic settings associated with Shiva. Shiva is enthroned at the centre, richly dressed and ornamented, with Parvati and Ganesha seated beside him, creating a composition centred on divine lineage, order and authority.

At the base of the throne is Nandi, Shiva's vahana, shown in a submissive yet attentive posture. Mount Kailash forms the backdrop, placing the divine family within Shiva's mythological abode and adding a cosmological dimension to the composition.

The print was produced using chromolithography, a colour printing technique that became an important medium for devotional imagery in India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chromolithographic prints allowed richly coloured representations of Hindu deities to circulate widely, becoming part of domestic shrines, devotional spaces and everyday visual culture.

The surface is decorated with applied cloth and zari work, adding a tactile textile element to the printed image. This form of embellishment brought together the visual language of printed devotional art with the decorative traditions of Indian textiles and craftsmanship, transforming the chromolithograph into a more elaborate devotional object.

Housed in its original wooden frame, the chromolithograph remains in notably good condition for its age, with strong colour retention and minimal surface wear. It offers an interesting example of early 20th-century Indian devotional print culture and the changing ways in which familiar Hindu iconography was presented during the colonial period.

Details

Subject: Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha
Deity: Shiva (Shankar)
Associated Figures: Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Nandi
Setting: Mount Kailash
Tradition: Indian devotional art
Technique: Chromolithograph with cloth and zari embellishments
Period: Early 20th Century
Dimensions: 21 × 15 in
Frame: Original wooden frame
Condition: Very good vintage condition with strong colour retention and minimal surface wear
Embellishment: Applied cloth and zari work
Authenticity: Comes with an authenticity certificate from The Blue Trunk.