Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Nainsukh in ca. 1745–50.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Baroque.

Untitled by Nainsukh (ca. 1745–50) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Krishna, shown in blue-hued skin, occupies the foreground with Radha beside him, their poses and proximity suggesting a moment of spiritual or romantic union.

The painting depicts a scene of Hindu devotional intimacy centered on the divine pair Krishna and Radha, flanked by an attendant male figure. Krishna, shown in blue-hued skin, occupies the foreground with Radha beside him, their poses and proximity suggesting a moment of spiritual or romantic union. The attendant, positioned slightly behind, frames the pair and underscores the scene’s narrative focus.

The iconography aligns with the Gita Govinda tradition, where Radha and Krishna’s exchanges symbolize divine love and the soul’s longing for the divine. The use of gold and refined figural modeling by Nainsukh elevates the scene from narrative illustration to a contemplative evocation of bhakti (devotional) ideals.

Technique & Style

Created in 1747 by the artist Nainsukh, this work is executed on a paper support using ink, opaque watercolor (gouache), and gold. The application of these materials results in a painting classified within the religious genre, depicting figures associated with Hinduism, specifically Krishna and Rādhā alongside a man and a woman. The composition utilizes gold alongside pigments to define its visual elements.

Physical measurements indicate the sheet stands 19.7 units in height and 15.7 units in width. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History & Provenance

The painting Untitled is attributed to the Pahari artist Nainsukh and dated to 1747, as indicated by both the internal catalogue entry and its Wikidata record. Executed in ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper, the work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed. Earlier ownership or any commission that may have prompted its creation is not documented in the available sources, leaving the provenance prior to the Met’s acquisition unspecified.

The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is recorded under an unspecified accession number. It was included in the museum’s holdings by 2023, as documented by its Wikidata entry. No exhibition history is provided in the cited sources.

Overview

This untitled painting, rendered in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, depicts a serene encounter between a man and a woman beneath a tree. The figures are adorned in traditional attire, with the woman in a vibrant pink sari and the man in a white dhoti. Gold accents highlight their garments and the foliage, contributing to the work's delicate visual appeal.