Krishna and Radha
Artist/maker unknown, Indian
Geography:
Made in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, India, Asia
Date:
c. 1750Medium:
Opaque watercolor and gold on cottonDimensions:
Image: 40 5/8 × 37 3/16 inches (103.2 × 94.5 cm) Frame: 43 3/4 × 40 1/2 × 1 7/8 inches (111.1 × 102.9 × 4.8 cm)Curatorial Department:
South Asian ArtObject Location:
1984-72-1Credit Line:
Purchased with the Edith H. Bell Fund, 1984
Made in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, India, Asia
Date:
c. 1750Medium:
Opaque watercolor and gold on cottonDimensions:
Image: 40 5/8 × 37 3/16 inches (103.2 × 94.5 cm) Frame: 43 3/4 × 40 1/2 × 1 7/8 inches (111.1 × 102.9 × 4.8 cm)Curatorial Department:
South Asian ArtObject Location:
Currently not on view
Accession Number:1984-72-1Credit Line:
Purchased with the Edith H. Bell Fund, 1984

A replica of this work is featured in Inside Out, a series of outdoor exhibitions throughout the region.
Label:
Krishna offers betel nut to his beloved Radha and envelops her in a gentle embrace in this unusually large composition. Their union is often interpreted as a metaphor for the joining of the earthly realm (Radha) with the divine (Krishna). Although Krishna is a cowherd and Radha a village woman, they wear elaborate robes and precious jewels. Their intricate ornamentation—from the flower on Radha’s forehead to the anklet visible beneath Krishna’s robe—elevates them to royal status, hints at their amorous relationship, and emphasizes their divine identities.
Krishna offers betel nut to his beloved Radha and envelops her in a gentle embrace in this unusually large composition. Their union is often interpreted as a metaphor for the joining of the earthly realm (Radha) with the divine (Krishna). Although Krishna is a cowherd and Radha a village woman, they wear elaborate robes and precious jewels. Their intricate ornamentation—from the flower on Radha’s forehead to the anklet visible beneath Krishna’s robe—elevates them to royal status, hints at their amorous relationship, and emphasizes their divine identities.