Vasudeva (Krishna's Father) Fleeing with Krishna Encounters a Cobra and a Jackal (verso), from a Kalighat album

The painting belongs to the Kalighat tradition of nineteenth‑century Bengal, a style that flourished in Kolkata workshops producing inexpensive images for popular circulation. Created in 1896, the work depicts the mythic scene of Vasudeva fleeing with the infant Krishna while confronting a cobra and a jackal, a motif drawn from the story of Krishna's birth. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued among the museum's holdings of Indian popular art. Scholarship situates the piece within the broader corpus of Kalighat imagery and its devotional themes.

This painting, titled Vasudeva (Krishna's Father) Fleeing with Krishna Encounters a Cobra and a Jackal, originates from a Kalighat album. It depicts a central male figure, identified as Vasudeva, carrying a small bundle, presumably the infant Krishna, during a perilous journey. The scene captures a moment of quiet intensity, surrounded by various animals, suggesting a narrative rooted in Hindu mythology. The artwork's vibrant palette and distinct forms are characteristic of its style.

Executed as part of a Kalighat album, the painting employs a distinctive visual language. Figures are rendered with bright, contrasting colors and simplified forms, allowing the main subjects to stand out. The background elements are subtly outlined and faded, directing focus to the central narrative.

This stylistic approach, typical of Kalighat art, emphasizes clarity and direct storytelling, making complex mythological scenes accessible and visually striking.