This painting depicts Jatayu fighting with Ravana (Rawana) to save Sita (Dewi Sita). Painted in the traditional Kamasan style, it depicts puppet-like figures with faces in three-quarter profile. The good character (Jatayu) appears in the traditionlal place on the puppeteer’s right. The painting lacks perspective and the background is covered with filler motifs including teardrop and winged horse-shoe motifs ('awan-awan' and 'daun daunan'). The reference to 'wayang kulit' (shadow puppet theatre) points to the importance of the Ramayana stories as they are performed in Balinese ritual life.The importance of the Ramayana is also seen in the way Balinese temples are adorned. Traditional cloth paintings were made for hanging on temple eaves, and the walls of temples and shrines were painted with scenes from the story. In Kamasan in the southeastern province of Klungkung, cloth paintings were also given as gifts by the king to other rulers, during the 19th century. Paintings are still found today in this area and the cloth paintings from Kamasan in particular, have enjoyed a revival in recent times.
