The painting is currently at Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, USA.
Mukul Dey was a wonderful artist of Bengali origin. He was Rabindranath Tagore's student at Shantiniketan and was on of the most infamous drypoint etching artist. He learnt print making from W.W. Pearson. He later travelled to Japan with Tagore to study Japanese painting and then went to Chicago to pursue study in etching. Dey became the very first Indian to be elected as a member of the Chicago Society of Etchers. Most of his artworks revovled around Indian mythology.
"Siva and Parvati in Cloudland" is one of his prolific drypoint etch painting. He has depicted the divine couple beautifully in an imaginative place. The couple's painting is created in a celsetial background. The two seem to be sitting in an enclosed, arched heavenly window with clouds swirling and moving around them.
The composition of the painting consists of Parvati standing at centre, her figure has been etched beautifully and she has elegant jewellery and flower adoration on her, depict beauty and grace. Behind, her stands Siva with a crown on his head and other jewellery. Their close positions depict spiritual and marital togetherness. Dey has printed their expressions very calm and serene which compliments the painting greatly. The clouds around them showcase a very dreamlike setting which is completely different from the earthly realm. He has also etched two circular floral motifs on the upper corners of the painting. Mukul has used lines and shading to make the painting look more attractive.
Mukul has effortlessly and perfectly blended the themes of spirituality, symbolism, elegance, mythology and love. Dey has depicted Siva and Parvati not only as a divine, godly couple but a personification of love, harmony and balance in a dreamy, heavenly landscape.
"Siva and Parvati in Cloudland" is a beautiful artwork by Mukul Dey. Dey, through this piece of art, showcases his skill of drypoint etching. The painting is valuable for the spiritual weight it carries. Through the depiction of Shiva and Parvati, it symbolises love and harmony. The closeness of the two figures brings forth the purity in physical intimacy. Thus, Dey's artwork reflects deep sensibility, symbolism and purity.
