Untitled

Unknown

ca. 1875–80 · Color lithorgraph, varnish · Asian Art

A popular episode from the story of Krishna’s youthful years at Vrindavan, known as Gopi Vastraharana (‘theft of the gopi’s clothes’), recounts his playful theft of the clothes of the female cowherds, the gopis, who had left their clothes on the Yamuna River bank while bathing. Krishna placed them high in the branches of a tree, in which he is seen perched, daring the gopis to venture from the water. Metaphorically, this story serves to convey the power of devotion, to stand vulnerable before one’s God, secure in the power of bhakti, the unquestioning devotion to one’s god.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1875–80

Medium

Color lithorgraph, varnish

Culture

India

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Barbara and David Kipper Gift, 2021