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Krishna and Balarama touching the feet of Vasudeva and Devaki, from the “Vertical” Bhagavata Purana
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This intensely emotional scene depicts the reunion of the blue-skinned god Krishna with his parents for the first time since the night of his birth. The stark white expanse of wall that fills most of the composition evokes the desolate years of separation during which time his parents were in prison. According to the story, Krishna and his half-brother, the white-skinned Balarama, have just slain a wicked king and freed his parents. Nevertheless, they all wear fine garments and ornaments. The artist elected to emphasize the appearance of good fortune over realism, signaling to the viewer that this is a happy reunion.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineKrishna and Balarama touching the feet of Vasudeva and Devaki, from the “Vertical” Bhagavata Purana, c. 1700–1725. Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. Gum tempera, gold, and silver on paper; page: 28.5 x 21.6 cm (11 1/4 x 8 1/2 in.); image: 24.3 x 16.5 cm (9 9/16 x 6 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 2018.85
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