Krishna and Putana
1830
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1830
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Krishna and Putana is a 1830 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, depicting Kalighat, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a woman in a bright red skirt with yellow trim, holding a small blue child. Her skin is light, and she wears heavy gold jewelry. The child clings to her neck, while she raises one hand with a red object. The background is plain, focusing all attention on the two figures. The woman’s bold red skirt and the child’s blue legs stand out sharply against the neutral background. This style is typical of *kalighat* paintings, which often feature strong colors and simple settings. Look up kalighat to see more paintings like this.
The painting in opaque watercolor on paper depicts Krishna killing the demon Putana, who was sent by Krishna's uncle Kamsa to assassinate him by poisoning her breast milk. As Putana attempts to nurse the infant Krishna, he instead draws out her life force, causing her death.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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