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3.7: Krishna and Radha in the Garden Pavilion

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    359624
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    Krishna and Radha in the Garden Pavilion

    12.jpg

    Artist: Unknown (Mughal or Rajput workshop)
    Medium: Opaque watercolor on paper
    Art Historical Time Period: Late Mughal or Rajput India (18th century CE)

    This painting shows the Hindu god Krishna sitting with Radha, his beloved companion, in a peaceful garden. Krishna and Radha are important figures in Indian religious stories, especially in the Bhagavata Purana and love poetry. Krishna is often seen as a god of love, music, and divine joy. Radha represents devotion and the deep emotional connection between humans and the divine.
    In the painting, Krishna and Radha sit close together under a flowering tree in a moonlit garden. The setting is romantic and calm, filled with signs of spring and life. Their love is both personal and spiritual—it shows how human love can reflect the soul’s desire to connect with something greater. In many Hindu traditions, Radha’s love for Krishna is seen as a symbol of bhakti, or loving devotion to God.
    This painting is important because it shows how Indian artists used color, detail, and expression to tell sacred stories. The rich clothing and gentle poses create a peaceful mood, while the setting suggests beauty, harmony, and divine love. This kind of art influenced temple decoration, poetry, and even Bollywood films, keeping the story of Radha and Krishna alive in Indian culture.

    Vocabulary

    • Bhakti Loving devotion to a personal god.
    • DevotionDeep religious love or loyalty.

    • Opaque watercolorA type of paint that creates solid colors without light shining through.

    Student Authors

    • Raphael Ducheine ’25 and Amanda Dorado ‘26

    Citations

    • Welch, Stuart Cary. Indian Art and Devotion. The Asia Society, 1987.

    • Goswamy, B. N. Krishna as Enchanter: Love and Devotion in Indian Painting. Museum Rietberg, 1996.

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    3.7: Krishna and Radha in the Garden Pavilion is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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