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Kama and Rati Witness the Reunion of Krishna and Radha, Page from a Gita Govinda Series

Asian Art

The Gita Govinda is a poem written by the twelfth-century poet Jayadeva. It describes the tumultuous love between the god Krishna and the milkmaid Radha. With its melding of romantic and religious sentiments, the Gita Govinda explores an important form of bhakti (devotion), in which a worshipper’s intense relationship with god is compared to a passionate love affair. This illustration from the poem shows Krishna three times: alone; cavorting with a group of women; and then finally reunited with his beloved Radha.
CULTURE Indian
MEDIUM Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
  • Place Made: Rajasthan, India
  • DATES 1714
    DIMENSIONS sheet: 10 x 16 15/16 in. (25.4 x 43.0 cm); image: 8 7/8 x 15 5/8 in. (22.5 x 39.7 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 1999.136.6
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Anthony A. Manheim
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Indian. Kama and Rati Witness the Reunion of Krishna and Radha, Page from a Gita Govinda Series, 1714. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, sheet: 10 x 16 15/16 in. (25.4 x 43.0 cm);. Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Anthony A. Manheim, 1999.136.6 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1999.136.6_PS1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 1999.136.6_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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