Leaf from a Kalighat album: Rama and Sita in the Royal Palace (recto); Radha and Krishna (verso)

1890

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Bengal Kalighat Kolkata

Dominant colour

Leaf from a Kalighat album: Rama and Sita in the Royal Palace (recto); Radha and Krishna (verso) is a 1890 by Shri Gobinda Chandra Roy, a Impressionism work, depicting Bengal, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Shri Gobinda Chandra Roy
When & what style?: 1890 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows two scenes on either side. On the left, a crowded palace with people in bright colors—reds, greens, and golds—stands behind a decorated balcony. A man and woman sit on a throne, surrounded by attendants holding fans and lanterns. On the right, a blue-skinned man plays a flute while a woman in a red sari watches, both seated on a simple mat. The bright colors and busy scenes suggest a mix of daily life and storytelling. The artist used bold outlines and flat colors, which was common in this style. Look up kalighat next to see more paintings like this.