Cleveland Museum of Art

Radha Awaiting Reconciliation with Krishna, from a Gita Govinda of Jayadeva

Date

c. 1680

Medium

Gum tempera and gold on paper

Culture

Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Mewar

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The artist has depicted Krishna’s favorite lover, Radha, six times to emphasize her agitation while she waits for Krishna. She has made intimate enclosures of flowering branches for their tryst, she pleads with a picture of him, and she lays out blossoms and liquor under a tree in preparation. Her confidante makes an appeal to Krishna who sits under a tree at right, seemingly unmoved and dispassionate. The viewer is meant to put oneself in the place of Radha, and feel her intense longing for Krishna. Even when it seems like the god does not come when he promises, that he does not care, the devotee, like Radha, should continue to wait and prepare to receive him.

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