Delighting Krishna: Paintings of the Child-God / Pichwai Paintings: Portals to the Hindu God Krishna
Scroll down to begin.
Paintings can be portals to other places. For the Hindu Pushtimarg community, pichwai paintings connect to the realm of the divine. In this interactive, encounter three extraordinary pichwai paintings from our collections alongside insights from Hindu community members, museum curators, a conservator, and a conservation scientist. Learn what certain images symbolize, the emotions the paintings are meant to evoke, and the science behind individual colors.
Pichwais, from the Hindi word for “behind,” are traditionally displayed behind icons of the child-god Krishna. They evoke momentous events from the years when Krishna lived on earth in a cowherders’ village in the region of Braj. Pushtimarg devotees believe Braj is not only Krishna’s childhood home in northern India but also a celestial realm where the god eternally dwells. Pichwais offer devotees a bridge between ordinary life and transcendent Braj.
Many pichwais were painted in Nathdwara, Rajasthan state, India, the global epicenter of the Pushtimarg community, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Others were made in the Deccan region of southern India. All were made to delight Krishna and to engage devotees’ emotions.
Select an image for a detailed view of the painting. Then select the highlighted points on each painting for insights from our contributing experts.
Delighting Krishna: Paintings of the Child-God is part of The Arts of Devotion, a five-year initiative at the National Museum of Asian Art dedicated to furthering civic discourse and understanding of religion.
This program is made possible by:
