Untitled

Manohar

ca. 1655–60 · Ink and opaque watercolor on paper · Asian Art

Early Indian paintings are often divided into multiple registers in which successive episodes of a story are related. Above, Krishna holds his hand in a gesture of exposition while Radha gazes on in erotic expectation. Below, an open garlanded bower anticipates their tryst and alludes to the sexual tension generated by Krishna’s seduction of Radha, described in the associated passage of the Gita Govinda. This work, while based on earlier paintings by the artist Sahibdin, was probably produced in Manohar’s workshop. It is characterized by a bolder but perhaps less refined style.

Artist

Manohar

Date

ca. 1655–60

Medium

Ink and opaque watercolor on paper

Culture

India (Rajasthan, Mewar)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Cythian Hazen Polsky, 1985