Mahishasura

Mahishasura is one of Tyeb Mehta’s most iconic and celebrated paintings, completed in 1997. Drawing from the myth of Durga slaying the demon Mahishasura, Mehta reimagines this ancient narrative through a modern, abstract lens, blending mythology with contemporary visual language.

In the painting, Durga and Mahishasura are not shown as traditional divine or demonic figures, but as fragmented, expressionistic forms—entangled in a symbolic, almost tragic embrace. With bold lines, sharp diagonals, and intense colors like reds, blacks, and oranges, the composition evokes conflict, tension, and transformation.

This masterpiece became a landmark in Indian art history when it sold for over $1.5 million at Christie’s in 2005, the first Indian artwork to cross the million-dollar mark at a global auction. The sale catapulted Tyeb Mehta into international fame and symbolized the rising value and recognition of modern Indian art on the world stage.