Garuda carrying Balarama and Krishna
1865
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1865
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Garuda carrying Balarama and Krishna is a 1865 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a giant bird-like creature with green wings kneeling down. On its back sit two blue-skinned figures with dark hair, wearing bright jewelry and golden armor. The bird has a human-like face and is dressed in a yellow cloth, while the figures hold their hands up as if in conversation. The two figures look like they’re riding the bird together, almost like passengers. The bright colors and simple shapes make the scene feel lively and full of movement. If you like this style, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more works like it.
A painting from 1865 depicts Garuda, the mythical eagle-headed mount of Vishnu, carrying the Hindu deities Balarama and Krishna on his shoulders. Executed in opaque watercolour and tin alloy on paper, the work reflects the Kalighat style, characterized by vivid colours, simplified forms, and rapid brushwork. The scene is set against the historical backdrop of Calcutta, then the capital of British India, where local artists adapted traditional themes to reflect colonial-era cultural shifts.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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