Head of Emaciated Siddhartha

This gray schist head from the 1st-3rd century CE depicts Siddhartha Gautama during his six years of extreme fasting before achieving enlightenment. The sunken cheeks, prominent bones, and gaunt features show a man surviving on a single grain of rice per day, reducing his body to skin and bones. Representations of the fasting Buddha are extremely rare in Gandharan art. Only three schist images of fasting Buddhas have been recovered through excavation in the Gandhara region.

The image depicts both an accomplishment (mastery of ascetic discipline) and a turning point: Siddhartha realized extreme deprivation wouldn't lead to enlightenment, leading him to the Middle Way, the path of moderation between luxury and self-denial. This insight became foundational to Buddhist philosophy. The piece is at the Art Institute of Chicago, a gift from Marilynn B. Alsdorf.