Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work, dated 1670 and executed in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, portrays the Hindu deities Krishna and Rādhā together on a bed.
The work, dated 1670 and executed in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, portrays the Hindu deities Krishna and Rādhā together on a bed. This iconography belongs to the religious genre of Indian devotional painting and symbolizes the intimate, celestial union of the divine couple, a common motif in Bhakti art that conveys spiritual love and devotion. The composition is attributed to an anonymous painter and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, having been created in India.
Technique & Style
Created in 1670 in India, this religious painting employs ink, opaque watercolor, and gold applied to a paper support. The work is classified within the paintings genre and stylistically aligns with Indian miniature traditions, utilizing the luminous and detailed qualities characteristic of opaque watercolor and metallic gold leaf. The handling of these materials allows for vivid, precise depictions of its sacred subjects, specifically the figures of Krishna and Rādhā, alongside a bed.
While the specific condition of the artwork is not documented in the available sources, the delicate nature of the water-based media on paper typically requires careful preservation to prevent flaking or fading of the gold and pigment layers.
History & Provenance
Untitled is an anonymous Indian painting dated to 1670, created in India using ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The work belongs to the religious genre and depicts the Hindu deities Krishna and Rādhā on a bed, a subject noted in both the internal catalogue and Wikidata. It was produced by an unnamed painter, and its provenance traces to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been part of the collection since at least its inception record in 1670. No record of a specific commission or subsequent owners is documented.
Untitled is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is part of the museum's collection of paintings. The work is listed as being created circa 1670, though the catalog entry does not provide an explicit accession or inventory number. No exhibition record is cited in the available documentation, and the sources do not mention any prior display venues. It is displayed within the institution's South Asian art galleries, though specific gallery numbers are not recorded.
Overview
This small, untitled painting on paper depicts a tender scene from Hindu mythology. Rendered with ink, opaque watercolor, and gold, it portrays the deities Krishna and Radha in a moment of repose. The composition is characterized by rich blue and gold patterns that frame the central figures, whose forms are delicately highlighted. The artwork offers a glimpse into a private interaction, inviting contemplation of its narrative.
Artist & collection










