Untitled

Becharam Das Dutta

dated equivalent to July 20, 1856 · Lithograph printed in black, with watercolor and selectively applied glaze · Asian Art

Krishna is represented here as the flute playing Lord, Venugopal, charming his lover the gopi (cow-maid) Radha with sweet music. The lovers are seen standing together on a golden dais in an interior framed by drawn curtains, a setting somewhat suggestive of stage and photographic studio settings. A pair of gopis attend them. This much favored subject is more typically situated in a forest glade, the setting for Krishna and Radha’s tryst. The romantic encounter of the divine Krishna and the mortal cow-maid fueled Vaishnava devotional texts, especially in the early modern period. Bengal experienced a renaissance of devotional literature from the 15th century onwards that celebrated this expression of divine passion, the writings in turn finding expression in a variety of visual art forms.

Artist

Becharam Das Dutta

Date

dated equivalent to July 20, 1856

Medium

Lithograph printed in black, with watercolor and selectively applied glaze

Culture

West Bengal, Calcutta, Kalighat

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mark Baron and Elise Boisanté, 2021