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Jamini Roy
Accession No . 3078
Artist Name. Jamini Roy
Title. Krishna and Gopis
Medium. Wash and tempera on paper
Size. 20 x 16 cm
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This painting is an evocative image of a rural community. Jamini Roy has beautifully represented in many of his paintings the sect of the Vaishnavas, the followers of Krishna as either making offerings to the lord or on the way to a temple in a procession or going around villages singing kirtans (devotional songs) on the life of Krishna, and seeking alms. Jamini Roy drew imagery that was authentic using simplification of form inspired by the folk arts of the region that had evolved over the centuries. In this painting the artist has divided the picture space into two horizontal planes with the upper panel showing Krishna in the center surrounded by Gopinis on either side holding fans in their hands and cheering in praise of the lord. The below panel also has five gopinis with their arms raised in obeisance. Even as Krishna is amongst his folks the artist has suggested his elated status by executing the figuration of Gopinis with a slight diminution. Although this painting is from the Krishna- Leela series the artist has used a more upright posture in the representation of the figures of Krishna as well Gopinis or herd women or milkmaids in contrast to the tribhanga style of the traditional iconography. The artist has used tempera colours even as he has adhered to the notions of ideal feminine beauty with the depiction of the doe eyes, demure stances and the voluptuous figure of the Gopini. The artist conveys a sense of an idyll where faith, religion and spirituality create an organic wholeness in life.
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