Female deity; Cambodia, Khmer Empire, Angkor Period, Baphuon Style, 1010-1080.

Female deity; Cambodia, Khmer Empire, Angkor Period, Baphuon Style, 1010-1080.
Sandstone.
Measurements: 38 x 14 x 7.5 cm; 41 cm (height with pedestal).
The sculpture possibly corresponds to Laksmi, the Hindu goddess of beauty, fortune and prosperity, consort of the god Vishnu. This female representation belongs to the Khmer Empire, during the Angkor Period, and is part of the Baphuon style, developed between 1010 and 1080 AD in present-day Cambodia. Carved in sandstone, a characteristic material of Angkorian statuary, the work reflects the synthesis between spirituality and sensuality that defines the Khmer aesthetics of this period.
The Baphuon style, associated with the reign of Udayadityavarman II, is distinguished by a more naturalistic treatment of the human body, with soft forms and harmonious proportions. In this piece, the female torso is presented with a subtle and delicate modeling that highlights the volume of the breasts and the narrow waist, elements that express both ideal of beauty and divine connotations of fertility and abundance. The figure wears the sampot, a finely carved traditional skirt with vertical pleats that adhere to the body and enhance her silhouette. This sculptural detail, of great technical precision, exemplifies the mastery of Khmer artisans in the representation of fabrics and anatomy.
Although the sculpture is incomplete, missing the head and part of the arms, its erect and balanced posture retains a remarkable elegance. The composition conveys serenity and stability, traits typical of the divine iconography in Angkorian art, where the human figure is conceived as the material support of the sacred presence. As a whole, this work is a testimony to the artistic refinement and deep religious symbolism that characterize the Baphuon style, one of the high points of Khmer sculpture.