Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Its depiction links the Hindu deity to pastoral themes traditionally associated with Krishna's role as a cowherd and protector.
The painting, dated 1835 and executed in opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper, portrays Krishna together with animals. Its depiction links the Hindu deity to pastoral themes traditionally associated with Krishna's role as a cowherd and protector. The work, held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, combines devotional subject matter with natural imagery, reflecting the cultural resonance of Krishna's iconography in Indian artistic practice.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1835, this small-scale work is rendered in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, a combination characteristic of Indian manuscript and devotional painting traditions of the period. The use of gold alongside opaque pigments suggests gilding applied to highlight sacred or ornamental details, while ink would have provided fine linear definition for outlines and facial features. The composition is modest in scale, measuring approximately 26 by 20.3 centimeters, consistent with an intimate devotional format intended for close viewing rather than display on a wall.
Its present location in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection indicates it has been preserved under institutional conditions suitable for works on paper, though specific conservation reports are not detailed in the available records.
History & Provenance
The work, an opaque watercolor with ink and gold on paper, was created in India in 1835. It depicts Krishna together with animals and is attributed to an anonymous artist, with no documented creator named in available records. It is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is catalogued as accession number 2019.137, recorded in 2019 through the Rogers Fund. No information is available regarding its commission or earlier ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, originates from Rajasthan, India, during the 1800s. It depicts a blue-skinned deity playing a flute, surrounded by a gathering of cows and human figures. The artwork is characterized by its vibrant palette, featuring deep blues, greens, and the luminous quality of gold leaf.
Artist & collection
