Madhubani painting, "Fish Family"

Swimming together toward a central point, fish fill this exuberant painting by Devendra Kumar Jha. Fish are a symbol of fertility and abundance, and are considered one of the many avatars of Lord Vishnu. The people of Mithila believe that God created the sea and hence the fish appeared, the first living creatures on earth. The artist works in the traditional Madhubani style with colors derived from plants on handmade paper.

As each painting is an individual creation, each is unique. Colors and motifs can vary slightly from that pictured.