Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Blue Krishna dances at the center of a small, colorful paper painting, ringed by clapping men and women while drummers keep the beat. From India, around 1610, the maker unknown. Gold leaf shimmers through the scene, and thin glazed layers of paint build rich color without heavy brushwork.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Krishna engaged in a dance while holding a drum, accompanied by a male and a female figure.
The painting shows Krishna engaged in a dance while holding a drum, accompanied by a male and a female figure. As a religious work made in India around 1610, the scene likely conveys a devotional theme, with Krishna’s dance symbolizing divine joy and the drum representing the call to spiritual celebration. The presence of the two human figures suggests devotees or gopis participating in the sacred performance, and the use of gold leaf underscores the subject’s sanctity.
Technique & Style
Untitled (1610) is a miniature executed in ink, opaque watercolor and gold leaf applied to paper, a support typical of Indian manuscript traditions. The work belongs to the religious painting genre and portrays Krishna in a dance accompanied by a drum, a man and a woman, reflecting the devotional subject matter of the period. The painting’s technique combines fine linear ink drawing with layered washes of opaque watercolor, enriched by gold highlights that accentuate sacred narrative elements. No condition details or handling information are recorded in the available documentation.
History & Provenance
The artwork, titled Untitled, was created in 1610 by an anonymous painter in India. Executed in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, the piece depicts religious themes centered on Krishna alongside figures of men and women engaged in dance with drums. While the specific commissioning patron and detailed creation context remain undocumented, the work has been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held in their collection.
The object's provenance prior to its arrival at the museum is not detailed in the available records, though its origin is firmly established as Indian from the early 17th century.
The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is housed and made accessible to the public. Created in 1610, the painting is catalogued within the museum's holdings of paintings on paper, executed in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available documentation.
Likewise, the sources do not document any prior ownership history, earlier collections, or a record of exhibitions, loans, or displays at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or any other institution.
Overview
This untitled painting from India, created around 1610, depicts a vibrant scene rendered with ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The artwork features the deity Krishna dancing at its center, surrounded by a lively assembly of men and women. This small-scale composition offers a glimpse into a moment of celebration, characterized by its rich color palette and intricate details.
Artist & collection
- Untitled
The Sentiment of Peace: Sama Rasa, from a Rasikapriya
Untitled
The Sentiment of Peace: Sama Rasa, from a Rasikapriya
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Ragini Kedara, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set
Krishna and Radha Avoid Embarrassment: Mottaita Bhava, from a Rasikapriya
Krishna and Consort on a Palace Balcony with Musicians: Vukharo Ragaputra of Bhairav, from the “Boston Ragamala”
Untitled
Ragini Bairari, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set
