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Krishna returns with the cowherds to Braj, from a Bhagavata Purana

Unknown

1830

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Romanticism Early 19th Century Religious

Dominant colour

Krishna returns with the cowherds to Braj, from a Bhagavata Purana is a 1830 unspecified by Unknown, a Mughal Painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1830 · Mughal Painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a busy village scene: Krishna, blue-skinned and crowned, leads a line of boys and cows back to Braj at dusk. The hills glow gold, the trees are tiny green flames, and every figure has a halo of light. The story comes from an old Hindu text. Krishna’s friends don’t know that time itself was bent so they could eat and play all day without missing home. The artist made the moment feel ordinary—like any kid coming back from the fields—yet the halos say it’s anything but. Look up more paintings of northern India, Pahari kingdoms to see how other artists told these same tales.

The story of this work

Overview

The painting is based on Chapter 14 of Book 10 of the Bhagavata Purana in which the god Brahma hides the cowherds and calves of Krishna. After realizing his mistake and witnessing the divine prowess of Krishna, Brahma extols Krishna and returns to his abode while Krishna and his fellow cowherds enjoy a hearty meal and then return to Braj.