https://emuseum.cornell.edu/internal/media/dispatcher/72155/fullKrishna and Radha Exchange Clothes, page from a Sursagar manuscriptlate 18th century7 1/2 x 5 1/8 inches (19.1 x 13 cm)Opaque watercolors and gold on paperGift of Wolf Ladejinsky74.060.0040Under a dark sky, in a lush bright-green landscape, Krishna, dressed in Radha's sari, sits under a tree. Radha, wearing Krishna's clothes approaches from the right. Two femal on lookers gesture toward the divine couple. A young man, a pair of cows, a pair of peacocks and a pair of egrets look toward the couple. A silvery body of water is in the foreground.Paintings19414737254Unidentified artistIndiaOriginally part of a manuscript, this page (like many religious texts and images) is now presented in isolation. Creating an individual object for study and appreciation sparks complex university discussions. The watercolor features the Hindu deity Krishna and his lover. Radha, a gopi or cow herder, became one of his most devoted followers. Blue-skinned Krishna, donning Radha’s sari, sits under a tree and watches Radha approach from the right. She wears Krishna’s accessories, including his peacock crown. Two women point and talk about the scene, and cows and egrets also take notice. In an attempt to see oneself in another, the divine couple exchanged clothes and effectively “walked around in another’s shoes.” ("This is no Less Curious: Journeys through the Collection" cocurated by Sonja Gandert, Alexandra Palmer, and Alana Ryder and presented at the Johnson Museum January 24 - April 12, 2015)
74.060.004_Disc8058_80585010