The theme of the painting done in oil on canvas is not
novel but much celebrated in medieval Indian
devotional literature as an expression of Radha's love
for Krishna. The dark Krishna and the golden fair Radha
are ceaselessly brought into juxtaposition with
Krishna goading shy Radha to come to him.
In a milieu of royal splendour, Krishna is seated on
a huge white cushion with golden cords. His pious
foot rests on a similar cushion. He is dressed in
pitamber (yellow garment), and a crown with a
peacock feather stuck in it. He wears a long garland
of roses. Radha, dressed in a beautiful rose pink
saree and a brocade blouse is wearing extraordinary
jewellery consisting of necklaces, head jewellery and
ornamented waist belt. She stands shyly in front of
Krishna, holding a fly whisk in one hand and holding an
end of her saree in another. Standing in tribhanga
position, she is the epitome of grace with her body
curving at three spots - knees, waist and the head.
There is an expression of longing on the faces of
Radha and Krishna - restrained due to shyness in the
former, bold and blatant in Krishna.
Awestruck by the intensity of emotion between the two
lovers, the sakhis can do little but stare at them.
They are dressed in ghagras and cholis of bright colours
and wear beautiful ornaments.
The background shows that the scene takes place in
the palace. The casket and a cup lie in a tray in the
foreground. The blue of the sky beyond the window and
that of the foreground frame other brilliant hues
used in the garments of the sakhis, the blue body of
Krishna, yellow clothes, red garland etc.
This description by Kiranjyot
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Of Related Interest:
Krishna as Aristocrat (Miniature Painting on Paper)