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17th - 18th century

Krishna and Gopis

Artist/maker unknown

When night falls, Krishna plays his flute deep in the forest. Dropping everything, from chores to children to husbands, the gopis (cowherdesses) pursue him. This diminutive bone carving shows Krishna playing his flute (now missing) as two gopis clasp his legs. The adoring women are so small and positioned so close to the princely god that they seem to merge with his body.

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