PaintingsIndian19th century

Krishna Swims with the Gopis (painting, recto), possibly an illustration from the Bhagavata Purana

mid-19th century

Description

In this painting, the blue-skinned Hindu god Krishna swims alongside a group of gopis (milkmaids) in a river. The setting is probably the town of Vrindavan where Krishna spent most of his early adulthood. The painting here seems to illustrate one of the many versions of the episode from the Bhagavata Purana, where Krishna steals the clothing left on the banks of the river by the bathing maidens, and hides the clothes on a tree. Here, he is shown to be teasing the gopis, holding on to one as she tries to playfully get away. The concept of Hindu devotional worship (bhakti) is alluded in the adoring eyes of the other gopis, gazing with warm love-laden eyes, praying for union with Krishna. In the distance, on the left, is a cow shepherd with his cattle; in the center is a priest at a shrine; and in on the right are several women surrounded by piles of laundry. Rajput, Pahari.

Classification

Paintings

Medium

Opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Culture

Indian

Century

19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art