Detail of a painting showing three Buddhist practitioners, seated cross-legged, wearing red robes, and holding musical instruments and offerings. They are all looking at a being with two arms and legs, facial features on its torso, and a huge spurting phallus where a human head would generally be located.

Belated #ThangkaTuesday entry comin’ in hot with a tiny detail of three cave-dwelling, red-robed yogis propitiating a rather remarkable phallus (man? spirit?)

#himalaya #buddhistart #bhutaneseart

Two bright red feet adorned with jewelry and snake ornaments are visible; these belong to a Himalayan Buddhist deity. Below each foot are two human males, one prone and one supine. The two supine figures face one another and each stretch out one arm as if to be demonstrating anguish, however, their vaguely smiling expressions, along with those on the three severed heads above, equally support a reading of the gestures as an attempt at a high five. I will not be dissuaded from this possible source of joy and amusement. And yes, I'm a professional art historian.

Among my favorites are these two mustachioed fellows, who, in my professional opinion, are 100% sneaking a high five whilst underfoot, much to the amusement of the three severed heads above.

📷: detail of Tandin Marpo thangka; Lobsang Norbu, Nat'l Museum of #Bhutan

#Bhutaneseart #ego #Buddhistart