Rasa Lila Pichwai

Place of OriginIndia, Rajasthan, Nathadwara

Dateabout 1875-1900

Dimensionselement: 209.9 x 277.5 cm (82 5/8 x 109 1/4 in.)(Dealer)

MediumOpaque watercolor heightened with gold on cloth

ClassificationDrawings

Credit LineGift of Arthur J. Secor, by exchange

Object number

2009.4

Not on View

DescriptionAn opaque watercolor painting on cloth known as pichwai, with a scene of Krishna and the gopis, some of who are dancing while others play musical instruments. The setting is a lush garden with monkeys, peacocks, and parrots in the trees and foreground while a palace looms above the dancers. In small flying vehicles are Hindu gods who give their blessing to the scene below.

Published Referencescf. Lazaro, Desmond Peter, Pichhvai Painting Tradition of Rajasthan: Materials, Methods and Symbolism, Ahmedabad, Mapin, 2005. cf. Lyons, Tryna, The Artists of Nathadwara: The Practice of Painting in Rajasthan, Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, 2004. cf. Schweig, G. M., Dance of the Divine Love: The Rasa Lila of Krishna from the Bhagavata Purana, India's classic sacred love story., Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005.