The Black Pagoda VIII

Ynez Johnston

The eighth from a series of 10 color lithographs titled "The Black Pagoda", published and printed at Tamarind in Los Angeles in 1966.

The Sun Temple of Konark is in Orissa, India was built of sandstone in the 13th century and is one of the 7 Wonders of India. Every inch of the temple is covered with sculpture, in tableaux and freestanding pieces ranging from the monumental to the miniature.

The imagery of this print is based on the walls of the temple which is, according to Tagore: 'Where the language of stone surpasses the language of man'. "Every inch of the remaining portions of the temple is covered ...in tableaux and freestanding pieces ranging from the monumental to the miniature. The subject matter is..thousands of images, deities, celestial and human musicians, dancers, lovers, and myriad scenes of courtly life, ranging from hunts and military battles to the pleasures of courtly relaxation."