Artwork
Krishna Exacts a Toll from the Milkmaids: Dana-Lila, from a Bhagavata Purana
Krishna Exacts a Toll from the Milkmaids: Dana-Lila, from a Bhagavata Purana is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
” This scene combines pastoral iconography, cows, a modest bridge, with the figure of Krishna to convey his divine authority over everyday life.
The painting depicts a moment from the Bhagavata Purana in which Krishna, the youthful cowherd, demands a toll from the milkmaids, an episode known as the Dana-Lila, or “play of the toll.” This scene combines pastoral iconography, cows, a modest bridge, with the figure of Krishna to convey his divine authority over everyday life. The levy imposed by Krishna symbolizes both a test of devotion and the playful exercise of divine power within Hindu narrative.
Rendered in the Bikaner school style and dated to 1600, the work reflects the devotional aesthetic of Rajasthani court art, emphasizing Krishna’s role as a benevolent yet sovereign presence in the spiritual imagination.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Krishna Exacts a Toll from the Milkmaids: Dana-Lila, from a Bhagavata Purana was created around 1600 in the Bikaner State region. It depicts a narrative episode from the Bhagavata Purana and is classified as a miniature painting in the Rajput tradition. The work is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, catalogued under accession number 2018.186, where it entered the collection as part of its holdings of South Asian painting.
Overview
This painting, titled Krishna Exacts a Toll from the Milkmaids: Dana-Lila, illustrates a specific episode from the ancient Hindu text, the Bhagavata Purana. It captures a moment of playful interaction between the deity Krishna and several milkmaids, known as gopis. The vibrant colors and distinct figures against a luminous background characterize this narrative scene, which is framed by flowering trees and a decorative border.
Technique & Style
The artwork employs a vivid palette, with figures rendered in bright hues like blue, yellow, green, and white, set against a radiant golden background. This luminous backdrop emphasizes the figures and their dynamic poses. The composition is framed by trees adorned with white blossoms, adding to the decorative quality. A distinctive speckled orange border further encloses the scene, characteristic of certain manuscript painting traditions.
Artist & collection
