Period: 10th century AD
Materials: Sandstone
Dimensions: 84 cm
Description
This male sandstone deity belongs to tenth-century Khmer sculpture. The torso has a pronounced frontal stance, broad shoulders, defined pectorals and a firm transition between chest and hips. The body follows a formal ideal that favours continuous volumes.
The sampot, the cloth wrapped around the hips, is carved in stylised geometric folds. Their pattern introduces a denser rhythm than the torso’s surfaces and emphasises the structure of the figure.
The anatomy does not dwell on individual muscles: the chest and abdomen are defined within broad surfaces, while the waist marks the transition to the garment. The geometry of the sampot’s folds provides a counterpoint to the modelling of the upper body. This relationship between anatomy and dress is a distinctive feature of the work and allows the sculptor’s treatment to be appreciated even in its surviving fragmentary form.
Khmer sculpture developed an independent language from Indian Gupta and post-Gupta models. Divine images of this type were intended for temples; the torso retains their monumental character despite the loss of the head and attributes.
