Radha and Krishna looking into a mirror

Radha and Krishna looking into a mirror

 Radha and Krishna looking into a mirror

Radha & Krishna the great symbolism of love in Hinduism, looking into a mirror together is considered as a romantic gesture but the love between Radhakrishna can be calculated or reduced to a relationship between men and women. But a great artist of India still tried to show this love through his painting, Check below.

The article was written by - Neha Kumari


RADHA AND KRISHNA LOOKING INTO A MIRROR


Title: Radha and Krishna looking into a mirror

Artist: Unknown,

Location: Pahari school, Garhwal

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Object type: painting

Date : 1800AD

Dimensions : Height (310mm) width (220mm)

Collection : National Museum, New Delhi.

Style: Indian paintings and art


"Details of this painting"

The painting "Radha and Krishna looking into a mirror" is one of those Gharhwal paintings in which the romanticism of Lord Radha and Krishna has been beautifully painted. The unknown artist had also tried to show nature's beauty along with Radhakrishna.

In this painting Krishna has been manifested with a golden crown on his head loaded with precious gems and stone, the artist has also decorated his crown by showing two peacock feathers. He is shown dressed in a yellow coloured dress called "Pitambar" (which is considered as an important key feature of Lord Vishnu) and a white garland on his neck.

Radha is portrayed in "Red lehenga" and a Vail on her head with various types of beautiful ornaments and green bangles in her hand. In this painting, both the faces of Radha Krishna are profile which is considered as an important key feature of Pahari school.

In this painting, Radha is shown sitting next to Krishna in "vajrasana mudra" in a Romantic mood on a beautifully designed yellow coloured bedsheet printed with red coloured flowers throughout it.
It is kept in the open Varanda of a beautiful place from where they can enjoy natural beauty and landscape also. In this painting the nature is beautifully painted by the artist with a river full of Lotus, green trees laden with flowers, various mountains and valleys are painted that looks very attractive, grasses, floating clouds looks very natural and painted in a curved circular design. Very High sky is painted in dark blue colour in different manners from basholi painting.

They are looking into the mirror simultaneously in a joyous mood, as you can see the mirror is held by Radha and both of them are looking into the mirror.
Two beautiful slim and attractive female helpers are shown sitting near them in an attentive mode. The first female helper in pink lehenga is looking left side and the second one in red lehenga is looking at Radha Krishna to ensure their needs.

Radha and Krishna both have curved sandal mark on their forehead, it is interesting to note that Garhwal paintings are recognised by the sandal mark on the forehead.
What is sandal mark on the forehead?
A mark or tilak of ash or sandalwood paste or turmeric pastes on the forehead after a bath is an ancient tradition mostly followed in the southern parts of India.

The tapestry shown in this painting is very attractive and colourful. The lights, shades, shadow effects are clearly noticeable. Golden floors with golden pillars, the artist has clearly designed each and every print beautiful on the floor that makes it look so real and royal.
From the beauty of this painting, we can conclude and artist has fully succeeded in the depiction of the subject manner. Now it is the collection of the National Museum, New Delhi.

"Know about Pahari school related to Indian art history"

Pahari painting from the hilly regions is an umbrella form used to manifest Indian paintings, done mostly in miniature forms originating from the Himalayan Hill Kingdom of North India during the 17 to 19 centuries.
The Pahari paintings are the best combination of Mughal, Rajasthani and the Folkstyle and yet now these are able to maintain their original existence. In Pahari school, the artist specially used the beauty of women and nature to depict mood, love and romance.
The love and romanticism between Radha Krishna are popularly painted a lot in a very beautiful and emotional style. This is because people living in the hills mostly followed Krishna culture.


The religious theme, classical literature, music from Indian mythology and local culture etc are the favourite subject matters of this school. This school use very bright colours and is mostly famous for the stylistic use of gold and silver which adds extra brightness and glamour.
The credit for flushing the Paris school goes to small kings of hell estates starting from Jammu to Delhi and Pathankot to Kullu.
The main centre of this school was:
Basholi, Guler, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Garhwal, Jammu and Kashmir, Dharamshala etc.
These paintings were done on a special type of handmade paper is called "sailkoti" papers

What are sailkoti papers?

The sailkoti papers were extensively used all over India. Famous for its quality and variety.
After drawing a line on paper, a white colour coat is given on the paper, " the surface of the paper is polished by rubbing a smooth stone on it. The painters used stencils to Make more copies of their paintings.


The Pahadi school is famous for freehand drawing. Even very fine lines have been used with great care to show internal sentiments and facial expressions
The animals and birds are very lively manifested in such a manner that their presence is need of the painting and symbolise emotions, eg - cawing crow is painted as a symbol of the arrival of the hero of the painting, painted Royal places, lattices and domes look like the makeup of real Marvel. It reflects the effect of the Mughal style on Pahari school. The tempera technique is used in Pahari school paintings.

What is the tempera technique?

Tempera technique is a method of painting in which the pigment is held together through a water solution mixed with either egg yolk, casein, gum or glycerine, It is a permanent fast drawing painting medium. This method is the oldest from the first century A.D. and still exist.


In Pahari School, the faces of the human being are profile beautiful female figures are especially of Pahari School. Their slim and attractive. Their large eyes round faces and long fingers are used to depict various sentiments. They look like ideal Indian women wearing traditional ornaments and transparent veils. They are decorated with a variety of ornaments. Males are shown in traditional costumes like angrakha, pajama and turban.


Conclusion:

In the above article, we have tried to give you detailed information about the painting of an unknown artist (title- Radha and Krishna looking into a mirror)
Introduction, key features of the painting, the image of the painting, details of the painting, Pahari school, sailkoti papers and the tempera technique.

The article was written by - Neha Kumari