Maha Devi Ma Durga

In Maha Devi Ma Durga (1974), Mukul Chandra Dey conveys a sense of being of a power which is both commanding and daunting. The female deity is situated at the center of the complex composition, the figure dominating over a group of attendants, weapons, adornments, and other objects. Below the deity, twisted figures denote the violence of the battle which is approaching victory on the side of divinity. This piece has been done in the medium of drypoint on rice paper. Its power comes from the eloquence of its lines. The fine lines have drawn the folds of clothes and even the jewelry, which is worn by people surrounding the goddess. The dark areas have been formed around the figure of the goddess, making her presence more prominent without making all those details disappear. No color is needed for her majesty to be known. The objects that are distributed around the picture allow reflecting on the ceremonial world that is connected with Durga worship. Vases, offerings, and decorative objects make the viewer see that there is no separation between the sacred world and life as all the sacred objects are materialized in it. On the other hand, the animal and the fallen figure under the goddess remind about the traditional images of the triumph of power over destructive powers. What makes Dey’s creation interesting and captivating is the fact that despite its complexity, it does not lose its main purpose. Every figure and sign is part of the world of reverence, struggle, delicacy and power. Through the discipline of printmaking, the artist presented a mythological theme as an illustration of resilience, command, and divine feminine power.