Collection
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Asian Art

Krishna Gazes Longingly at Radha, Page from the "Lumbagraon Gita Govinda" Series

Indian

1 of 3

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

Asian Art

Culture

Indian

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

Painting

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

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Artists and makers

Indian

312 works in the collection