Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1812 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The crane’s presence, along with the demon’s form, symbolizes the triumph of divine virtue over malevolent forces, a recurring theme in Krishna’s mythology.
The painting depicts the Hindu deity Krishna standing atop a vanquished demon, identified as the crane-demon Bakasura in the Bhagavata Purana. Krishna is shown in a dynamic pose, asserting dominance over the creature, which is rendered prone beneath him. A second figure, likely a gopi, appears in the background, reinforcing the pastoral and devotional context of the scene.
The crane’s presence, along with the demon’s form, symbolizes the triumph of divine virtue over malevolent forces, a recurring theme in Krishna’s mythology. The work’s religious genre and iconography align with 19th-century Pahari or Rajput traditions, where such narratives were visually interpreted to convey moral and spiritual lessons.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in ink and opaque watercolor on paper, a support typical of early 19th‑century Indian painting practice. Its dimensions measure 35.2 cm in height by 21 cm in width, consistent with the recorded size of the piece. The painting belongs to the religious genre and portrays Hindu figures, Krishna, a crane, and a demon, rendered in a devotional composition.
As a painted work in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it is preserved on paper and handled as a delicate two‑dimensional object, though specific conservation details are not documented.
History & Provenance
The work titled Untitled was produced in 1812 in India by an anonymous painter, as documented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection records. Executed in ink and opaque watercolor on paper, the piece measures 35.2 × 21 cm and belongs to the religious genre, depicting Krishna alongside a crane and a demon. Its creation is placed in the early nineteenth‑century Indian artistic context, though no commissioning patron is recorded.
The work entered the museum's holdings, where it remains on display, establishing a clear ownership chain from its place of origin to the present custodianship of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The 1812 ink and opaque watercolor painting titled Untitled is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the specific accession number is not detailed in the available records, the institution is confirmed as the current custodian of this work depicting Krishna, a crane, and a demon. The provided sources do not contain information regarding any past or future exhibitions featuring this specific piece, nor do they list a formal inventory code beyond its identification within the museum's holdings.
Overview
This untitled work is an ink and opaque watercolor painting from India. It portrays a blue-skinned deity, identified as Krishna, standing atop a defeated demon, with cranes depicted in flight above. This artwork likely served a devotional purpose, possibly created for a wealthy family's private prayer space, reflecting common practices in Indian art patronage.
Artist & collection
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Folio 18 from a Chandana Malayagiri Varta (Story of King Chandana and Queen Malayagiri) of Karamachand: Ravana battles the great vulture Jatayu and defeats him by throwing stones in his mouth (recto); Jatayu approaches Rama and Lakshmana who are wondering where Sita could be (verso)
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