Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Blue-skinned figures ride among a crowd in bright clothes, horses rearing and arms raised across a scene full of motion. Painted in India around 1700 for a royal court, it centers on Krishna, the playful, heroic Hindu god, built up in ink and opaque watercolor on paper.
Subject & Meaning
The painting, dated to around 1700 and executed in ink and opaque watercolor on paper, illustrates a mythological scene from Hindu tradition in which the god Krishna appears within a chariot drawn by horses, accompanied by a man and a woman. The composition reflects symbolic themes of divine guidance and heroic destiny associated with Krishna in Hindu iconography, emphasizing his role as a protector and charioteer. The work’s attribution to an anonymous artist and its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art highlight its significance as a rare example of 18th‑century Indian mythological art.
Technique & Style
Executed with fine ink outlines filled by flat washes of color, the piece demonstrates a traditional Indian draftsmanship approach to narrative figuration.
The work is an ink and opaque watercolor painting on paper, produced in India around 1700. It measures roughly 18.4 cm by 35.2 cm and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition illustrates a Hindu mythological narrative, depicting Krishna in a chariot alongside a horse, a man and a woman, reflecting the mythology genre classification.
Executed with fine ink outlines filled by flat washes of color, the piece demonstrates a traditional Indian draftsmanship approach to narrative figuration. No specific information on current condition or handling is recorded in the sources.
History & Provenance
Created in India around 1700, this ink and opaque watercolor on paper was produced by an anonymous artist. The work, which illustrates a scene from Hindu mythology featuring Krishna and a chariot, currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the details of its ownership chain prior to entering the museum are not documented in the available records, its inception is firmly dated to the turn of the eighteenth century. The painting measures 18.4 by 35.2 centimeters and is classified within the museum's paintings department.
Overview
This untitled Indian painting, rendered in ink and opaque watercolor on paper, depicts a dynamic gathering. Blue-skinned figures on horseback are central, encircled by men and women adorned in vibrant attire. The composition conveys a sense of animated movement, with rearing horses and gesturing arms contributing to the scene's energetic quality.
Artist & collection


















