Tossing the Flower
by Fattu. From the Bihari Sat Sai series. Kangra School. Late 18th century AD.
This is one of the most animated Kangra miniature. Radha is about to hot back the flower tossed by Krishna; Krishna is ready to catch it. A sakhi (friend) stands and watches the game and the fun and frolic between the lovers.
Fattu subtly combines the high energy of the two human figures with the serinity of the landscape in the background. The hills rise, the river flows quietly, the trees stand silently. It is the human and the divine who are active.
According to Hindu mythology, Krishna is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu--the God who maintains Nature. Radha is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi--the Goddess of wealth. It is they who maintian the universe. They must be active. The flower is a symbol of the time, space and of the fluctuating character of Nature, of life. At one level the painting depicts an innocent game between lovers; at another level, it is a philosophical statement about life and Nature. That is the beauty of Indian art.
Fattu subtly combines the high energy of the two human figures with the serinity of the landscape in the background. The hills rise, the river flows quietly, the trees stand silently. It is the human and the divine who are active.
According to Hindu mythology, Krishna is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu--the God who maintains Nature. Radha is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi--the Goddess of wealth. It is they who maintian the universe. They must be active. The flower is a symbol of the time, space and of the fluctuating character of Nature, of life. At one level the painting depicts an innocent game between lovers; at another level, it is a philosophical statement about life and Nature. That is the beauty of Indian art.
No comments:
Post a Comment