AN ILLUSTRATION TO A GITA GOVINDA SERIES: RADHA AND THE GOPIS IN CONVERSATION AT NIGHT
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTION
Kangra, Pahari Hills, Northern India, mid to late 19th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on wasli paper, the horizontal composition depicting Radha and the gopis meeting in the forest, the pink-clad sakhi (confidante) holding her hands up pointing at Radha in a conversation gesture, the seated orange-clad Radha listening carefully, raising her hand next to the mouth in a gesture suggesting secrecy, the nature surrounding the two figures embracing them in a circular glade, two further gopis on the left hand-side talking to each other and standing guard, set within a white floral border against dark blue ground, and a washed light pink border, the recto plain, 21.5cm x 27.5cm.