Krishna with Musician

Krishna with Musician
Rajasthan, India, 16th – 17th century
Watercolor on paper
Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of Lorraine Allen, 920028700

As the embodiment of love and joy, Krishna was a paramount topic of Rajput painting in northern India. In this image, Krishna, the blue-skinned, haloed figure on the left, accepts a song of devotion from a musician who kneels on the right. With the characteristic generosity he offers to all of his devotees, Krishna extends his left hand toward the musician in the varada gesture—the hand upside down with the palm facing outward—symbolizing a blessing in return for the musical gift.

Rajput painting emerged in regions of northern India beginning in the sixteenth century, as a result of the invasion of the Mughals (pronounced “Moo-guhls”), a dynasty originating in central Asia. The Mughals brought with them a heritage of art that fused Persian, Islamic and European styles and introduced patterns and traditions of their culture to that of native India. These small works were commissioned by the ruling classes or Raja-putra, “sons of kings,” and became a powerful way of expressing devotion to the gods synonymous with offering a prayer—one that could be repeated each time a viewer gazed on the image.

All photographs and videos have been provided by Entrepid Productions with support from Andrew Hair, Daniel King, and Garth Pratt.