Krishna and Bakasura
1850
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1850
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Krishna and Bakasura is a 1850 paint by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a dark-skinned figure in bright, bold colors: a blue headpiece, yellow skirt, and red sash. The person is holding a long stick and a peacock feather fan, standing over a bird with a scaly back. Their face has a calm expression, but the scene looks intense. The bird might be a monster—its name is Bakasura in the title. The artist used flat colors and simple shapes, making the scene feel dramatic but also stylized. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more paintings like this.
This watercolour on paper painting with tin-alloy details depicts Krishna killing the Heron Demon Bakasura by splitting the bird’s long beak. Krishna is shown with blue skin, wide white eyes, and traditional attire including a short dhoti, a cape, and a peacock-feather crown, along with Vaishnavite forehead markings and multiple ornaments such as a white multi-string necklace, bangles, and anklets. The work belongs to the Kalighat style, characterized by its distinctive ornamental motifs. It was acquired in 1889 from G. Wild and is part of a collection that includes related pieces.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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