Radha Awaiting Reconciliation with Krishna, from a Gita Govinda of Jayadeva
Unknown Artist
c. 1680
Medium
Gum tempera and gold on paper
Dimensions
21.3 × 25.3 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of John D. Proctor
Accession Number
1990.41
About this artwork
The artist has depicted Krishna’s favorite lover, Radha, six times to emphasize her agitation while she waits for Krishna. She has made intimate enclosures of flowering branches for their tryst, she pleads with a picture of him, and she lays out blossoms and liquor under a tree in preparation. Her confidante makes an appeal to Krishna who sits under a tree at right, seemingly unmoved and dispassionate. The viewer is meant to put oneself in the place of Radha, and feel her intense longing for Kri...