An illustration from an avatar series:
Narasimha disembowls Hiranyakashipu

Hyderabad, circa 1800
Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper.

The split silver pillar disrupts an otherwise perfect symmetry, adding a sense of movement behind the brilliant gold avatar. His delightful grin betrays the inherent violence of the scene, and creates a depiction easy to adore.

Text and image credit:
Bonhams