Arkivism
Krishna celebrates Holi
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Krishna celebrates Holi

c. 1770 · gum tempera, gold, and silver on paper

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

During the festival of Holi, Hindus celebrate the coming of spring by playfully throwing and shooting colored water and powders at one another. Among all the cowherd boys with whom he grew up, Krishna, a Hindu god incarnated on earth, is the only one able to reach the heart of a gopi , or milkmaid, with a well-aimed plunger full of colors. Raucous with sound as well as color, some of the boys play the drum, flute, and horns; girls strum a vina (stringed instrument), play a flute, and blow a whistle.

Cleveland Museum of Art’s own description
Credit lineKrishna celebrates Holi, c. 1770. Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. Gum tempera, gold, and silver on paper; page: 21 x 29.4 cm (8 1/4 x 11 9/16 in.); image: 15.5 x 23.8 cm (6 1/8 x 9 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 2018.104
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