Krishna Gazes Longingly at Radha, Page from the "Lumbagraon Gita Govinda" Series
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Object Label
These three paintings, illustrating two of Hinduism’s great romantic-devotional poems, show episodes during which Radha becomes jealous of Krishna’s other lovers and refuses to see him; all involve a female confidante, known as a sakhi, who works diligently to reunite the lovers. In the page from the Sat Sai, the sakhi berates Radha for torturing herself over Krishna’s infidelities. In the two pages from Gita Govinda manuscripts, the sakhi delivers messages between the god and Radha. In the night scene, Krishna, ever impish, eavesdrops on the women’s conversation.
Caption
Indian. Krishna Gazes Longingly at Radha, Page from the "Lumbagraon Gita Govinda" Series, ca. 1820–1825. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper, sheet: 11 1/8 x 14 3/8 in. (28.3 x 36.5 cm) image: 9 1/2 x 12 5/8 in. (24.1 x 32.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 72.43. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Krishna Gazes Longingly at Radha, Page from the "Lumbagraon Gita Govinda" Series
Date
ca. 1820–1825
Geography
Place made: Kangra, Punjab Hills, India
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Classification
Dimensions
sheet: 11 1/8 x 14 3/8 in. (28.3 x 36.5 cm) image: 9 1/2 x 12 5/8 in. (24.1 x 32.1 cm)
Inscriptions
Inscriptions on reverse refer to another folio, but are here translated: She, who has cast her wishful eyes at Govinda (the lord of cowherds) rejoicing and melodiously ringing her anklets, entered the grove. Afterwards, she, who has denounced her lineage, and incurred sin by the act of digression from the path of her lineage, became all the more beautiful with the manifested marks (of nails and teeth) like the moon risen on the horizon of Vrindavana with streams of his rays and resembling the sandal paste marks on the face of the lady of the horizon.
Credit Line
Designated Purchase Fund
Accession Number
72.43
Rights
No known copyright restrictions
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