Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2003.165
- Credit line
- Cynthia Hazen Polsky and Leon B. Polsky Fund, 2003
About this work
A woman in a blue sari sits beneath a tree with two monkeys, a peacock, and a small blue figure beside her. Painted in opaque watercolor around 1635, with tiny silver dots that still catch the light four centuries on. The maker is unknown, but it reads like a quiet moment from a longer Krishna story.
Subject & Meaning
Classified as a mythology work, the composition likely illustrates a scene from Hindu tradition, highlighting Krishna's divine presence amid natural elements.
The painting depicts Krishna accompanied by a monkey, a peafowl, a tree, and a woman. Classified as a mythology work, the composition likely illustrates a scene from Hindu tradition, highlighting Krishna's divine presence amid natural elements. The grouping of figures creates a devotional tableau that underscores the relationship between the deity, his attendants, and the surrounding environment.
Overall, the work conveys a religious narrative focused on Krishna's interaction with his companions and the world around him.
Technique & Style
The work is an opaque watercolor painting with silver pigment applied to paper, measuring approximately 11.4 × 20.3 cm. The piece was created in India around 1635. Its technique involves the use of opaque watercolor to render a mythological scene that includes Krishna, a monkey, peafowl, a tree, and a woman, reflecting a mythological genre. The composition demonstrates a formal arrangement typical of Indian miniature traditions, with delicate line work and subtle color modulation.
The painting is catalogued as a work by an anonymous painter in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Untitled, created in 1635 by an anonymous artist, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, executed in opaque watercolor and silver on paper, measures 11.4 cm in height and 20.3 cm in width. The museum identifies the piece as a painting classified under mythological genre depicting Krishna, a monkey, a peafowl, a tree, and a woman.
The artwork originates from India. No specific exhibition history or provenance details regarding previous ownership or display dates are documented in the provided sources.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered in opaque watercolor and silver on paper, depicts a serene outdoor scene. A central female figure, clad in a blue sari, rests beneath a tree, accompanied by various creatures. Two monkeys and a peacock share the space, alongside a small blue figure. The composition evokes a contemplative moment, possibly extracted from a larger narrative.
Artist & collection
- Women Play Music for Radha and Krishna: Chitrini Nayika, from a Rasikapriya
Women Play Music for Radha and Krishna: Chitrini Nayika, from a Rasikapriya
Untitled
Vasant Ragini
Bhairava raga
Krishna Exacts a Toll from the Milkmaids: Dana-Lila, from a Bhagavata Purana
Krishna steals the gopis' clothes
Krishna and Gopis
Krishna and Balarama
Krishna
Krishna and Balarama
Two Women Pluck Flowers on a Terrace: Gunakali Ragini, from a Ragamala
