Gopis Clinging to Krishna

* Nearly 20,000 images of artworks the museum believes to be in the public domain are available to download on this site. Other images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. By using any of these images you agree to LACMA's Terms of Use.

Gopis Clinging to Krishna

India, Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, circa 1700-1725
Drawings; watercolors
Opaque watercolor on paper
Image: 9 7/8 x 5 9/16 in. (25.08 x 14.13 cm); Sheet: 11 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (29.21 x 18.42 cm)
From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase (M.77.19.23)
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

This striking painting serves as a metaphor for the ultimate indivisibility of the devotee with the divine in the belief system of Vaishnava Bhaktism....
This striking painting serves as a metaphor for the ultimate indivisibility of the devotee with the divine in the belief system of Vaishnava Bhaktism. Its mountain-like form evocatively portrays nine adoring milkmaids (gopis) clinging to a towering Krishna, many with their hands held in the gesture of devotion. The gopis have caste markings on their foreheads and wear an assortment of beautifully patterned skirts and shawls. Krishna stands on his left leg with his right wrapped around two gopis. Each of his four arms carresses a different gopi while he stares intently into their eyes. Two cows also gaze adoringly up at Krishna. The image appears to visualize verses analogous to those in the Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord) describing the passionate interplay of Krishna and his lovers in their climactic Dance of Delight (Rasa Lila) on his final idyllic night in Braj: “Another Gopi caught hold by her arm the shoulder of Krishna.… Another Gopi smelled how Krishna’s arm placed on her shoulder was fragrant like a lily.… Another Gopi who rested on Krishna’s cheek her own.… Another Gopi … pressed to her bosom his blissful lotus-hand.” (Bhagavata Purana 10.33.11–14) A contemporaneous Mandi painting of Shiva similarly adored by clinging women devotees is in The Goenka Collection, Kolkata.
More...

Bibliography

  • Markel, Stephen. "The Enigmatic Image: Curious Subjects in Indian Art." Asianart.com, July 28, 2015. http://asianart.com/articles/enigmatic.

     

  • Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
  • Markel, Stephen. "The Enigmatic Image: Curious Subjects in Indian Art." Asianart.com, July 28, 2015. http://asianart.com/articles/enigmatic.

     

  • Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
  • Goswamy, B.N. and Eberhard Fischer.  Pahari Masters:  Court Painters of Northern India.  Zürich:  Artibus Asiae Publishers and Museum Rietberg, 1992.
More...