Untitled

Unknown

1883 · Lithograph · Asian Art

As the evil king Kamsa had intended to kill the baby Krishna, Vishnu ordered Vasudeva to take Krishna to Gokul, the scene shown here. Vasudeva exchanged Krishna for the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda; later she prophesizes Kamsa’s death. As a result of this exchange Krishna grew up in Gokul with his stepbrother Balarama before ultimately returning to kill Kamsa. Here, Vasudeva embraces Krishna and runs through a dramatic stormy landscape on the shore of a lake. Krishna’s birth and escape from Kamsa is still today marked by the Janmastami celebration.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1883

Medium

Lithograph

Culture

India

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, William Spielman Bequest, in memory of William and Bette-Ann Spielman, 2014