Artwork

Leaf from a Kalighat album: Krishna as Kali worshipped by Radha (recto); Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso)

Leaf from a Kalighat album: Krishna as Kali worshipped by Radha (recto); Krishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This double-sided painting, a leaf from a Kalighat album, presents two distinct yet thematically linked Hindu narratives.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The recto depicts Krishna in the fierce form of the goddess Kali, worshipped by his consort Radha, while the verso shows Krishna subduing the multi-hooded serpent Kaliya in the waters of the Yamuna. The recto inverts traditional Hindu iconography by casting the dark-skinned Krishna in the terrifying guise of Kali, a visual paradox that highlights the playful, transgressive wit characteristic of late nineteenth-century Kalighat painting produced in Kolkata around 1890. By pairing this image with the Kaliya-daman episode on the verso, the leaf unites two of Krishna's most celebrated narratives: his cosmic victory over evil and his intimate, devotional bond with Radha.

History & Provenance

The leaf from a Kalighat album depicting Krishna as Kali and the quelling of Kaliya is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland.

The painting was created in 1890 in Kolkata, where the Kalighat album tradition flourished. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as 2003.113. The work is attributed to an unknown artist, and no further details on its commission, intermediate ownership, or acquisition history are documented in the available sources.

The leaf from a Kalighat album depicting Krishna as Kali and the quelling of Kaliya is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is cataloged under the accession number 2003.113. This painting, created around 1890 in Kolkata, is attributed to an unknown artist. The provided sources do not record any specific exhibition history for this item.

Overview

This double-sided painting, a leaf from a Kalighat album, presents two distinct yet thematically linked Hindu narratives. The recto side uniquely depicts Krishna embodying aspects of the goddess Kali, receiving devotion from Radha. The verso illustrates Krishna's triumph over the multi-headed serpent Kaliya.

This artwork exemplifies the rich narrative tradition prevalent in Indian popular art, offering varied interpretations of mythological tales.

Context

The artistic practice of merging divine forms, such as Krishna's portrayal with Kali's attributes, was a recurring motif in Indian storytelling and visual culture. Such interpretations allowed for complex theological ideas to be conveyed accessibly to a wide audience. This leaf, originating from a Kalighat album, reflects a tradition of popular religious paintings that often reinterpreted established mythological narratives with inventive visual forms.

Krishna as Kali worshipped by Radha (recto), from a Kalighat album

Artist & collection

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

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