The upper scene depicts Ravana with nine human heads and a tenth donkey head promising the demon Kalanemi half his kingdom if he can defeat Hanuman. The lower scene depicts Ravana supervising his demon soldiers as they sound horns and drums to awaken his indolent giant brother Kumbhakarna from his usual six-month slumber. Both demons are reluctant to fight and are ultimately killed by Rama’s allies.
This painting illustrates Ravana’s desperate attempt to coerce mercenaries, who contrast with the willing heroes fighting with Rama. While Rama is the ideal king, certain of his victory, Ravana stubbornly enlists allies into a war he is doomed to lose.
The ornate border, adorned with flowers and animals, suggests that the painting was created in a workshop in Jaipur. A black Sanskrit inscription below the border corrects the gold label in the top left that misidentifies Kalenemi. This correction may indicate the artist’s unfamiliarity with the Kalanemi narrative, which only occurs in some tellings of the Ramayana.]]> Image: 8 1/16 x 5 7/8 in.
Sheet: 12 x 8 7/16 in.]]> Warhol recounts an encounter between himself, Sandro Chia, and Warhol’s Factory assistant Benjamin Liu that took place on Thursday, June 16, 1983—
“…Benjamin said he looked in Chia’s eyes and that they were “wild eyes.” And afterwards I said to Benjamin, “Well what do you mean?” I said, “Look into my eyes and what do you see?” And Benjamin said, “Troubled eyes.” I said, “Oh who do you think you are?”]]> Warhol recounts an encounter between himself, Sandro Chia, and Warhol’s Factory assistant Benjamin Liu that took place on Thursday, June 16, 1983—
“…Benjamin said he looked in Chia’s eyes and that they were “wild eyes.” And afterwards I said to Benjamin, “Well what do you mean?” I said, “Look into my eyes and what do you see?” And Benjamin said, “Troubled eyes.” I said, “Oh who do you think you are?”]]> Warhol recounts an encounter between himself, Sandro Chia, and Warhol’s Factory assistant Benjamin Liu that took place on Thursday, June 16, 1983—
“…Benjamin said he looked in Chia’s eyes and that they were “wild eyes.” And afterwards I said to Benjamin, “Well what do you mean?” I said, “Look into my eyes and what do you see?” And Benjamin said, “Troubled eyes.” I said, “Oh who do you think you are?”]]> Warhol recounts an encounter between himself, Sandro Chia, and Warhol’s Factory assistant Benjamin Liu that took place on Thursday, June 16, 1983—
“…Benjamin said he looked in Chia’s eyes and that they were “wild eyes.” And afterwards I said to Benjamin, “Well what do you mean?” I said, “Look into my eyes and what do you see?” And Benjamin said, “Troubled eyes.” I said, “Oh who do you think you are?”]]> Warhol recounts an encounter between himself, Sandro Chia, and Warhol’s Factory assistant Benjamin Liu that took place on Thursday, June 16, 1983—
“…Benjamin said he looked in Chia’s eyes and that they were “wild eyes.” And afterwards I said to Benjamin, “Well what do you mean?” I said, “Look into my eyes and what do you see?” And Benjamin said, “Troubled eyes.” I said, “Oh who do you think you are?”]]>