Page 151 - Eye of the beholder

The The painting is replete with metaphors of blossoming love through allusion to nature The The fresh yellow and white blossoming flowers near the the swing signifies the the love bursting forth while the the the the stream of of water is indicative of of their joyous emotions in in in in being together in in in in the the the the monsoon The sakhi in in in in front is pushing the the swing on on on on which the the divine lovers are seated Of the the group of of four behind her two of of them are carrying morchal and simultaneously perhaps discussing among themselves as evident from their glances postures and gestures if they will get an an opportunity to swing with Krishna in in in the same intimate manner Their faces have been beautifully rendered with large round eyes arched brows full full sensuous red red lips and jet black flowing luxuriant hair Their bodies are equally adorned with judicious choice of pearl jewellery around their neck the the the nose baali large elaborate ear rings the the the head ornament and the the bangles All their hands are hennaed Radha’s face has been modeled with modulation of subtle shadows particularly seen under the the eyes and and and chin and and and the the neck Her jewellery is elaborate studded with emeralds and and and rubies together with the the pearls She wears a a a a a a a a brown block printed ghagra red bandhini odhini and and a a a a a a a a golden yellow choli choli A covert eroticism is is evident in in her her choli choli revealing her her breast partly with Krishna firmly holding on on on to her her shoulder and her her arm on on on his Both the forms are ensconced within a a a a a a a a a heart shape halo that has radiating golden light indicated by very fine gold gold lines It is a a a a a a a a masterpiece of of utmost fine delicacy particularly fin in in the rendering of of every detail from facial features to to to jewellery to to to sartorial attire There is is a a a a a a a a a dupatta hanging from his shoulders and he he is is wearing a a a golden yellow coloured ‘dhoti’ The blue complexion of his body has been highlighted There is is an an elaborate decorative turban crowning his head with a a a a a a a a rich pearl ornamented sirpanch adorned by peacock feathers A beautiful grey feather feather with oval pearls is inserted in in in the the the middle of of the the the turban and loops of of pearls hang down on the the the back reaching up to his his neck neck Around his his neck neck are pearl pearl strands and and he also wears pearl pearl earring studded with with ruby as it it it is is is is red in colour Krishna’s arm is is is is magnificently bejeweled with with wrist bracelets bangles and armlets ornamented with pearls pearls Apparently pearls pearls were favoured perhaps they were available in abundance or or perhaps it it offered the the artist the the opportunity o of effectively using the the white pigment in in in in a a a a a a a a versatile way The character of the the swing is an an ordinary plank tied with ropes to the branch of a a a a a a a a tree Radha sitting on on his lap is is wearing traditional butti decorated ghangra in in brown and a a a a a a a a a yellow choli Her head is covered with a a a a a a a a a transparent odhini Her choli provocatively cuts across her her breast as as she lifts her her arms to to hold on to to the rope of the swing Since the the miniature is is dated to the the middle of nineteenth century European influence is is apparent in in in the the romantic idyllic setting that is rendered with perspectival space taking the the eye into the the the background which has the the the representation of of the the the city of of Vrindavan perhaps There is a a a a a a a sense of of scale in the the the the relationship of of the the the the figures to the the the the tree as as well as as the the the the middle ground group to the background The colours are fresh and charming making it it an an exquisite work from this period in fin in terms of of of its finesse subtlety of of of accessories and the the judicious choice of of of colours in fin in the the sartorial attire There is also considerable shading in in in in the the delineation of of the the grass in in in in terms of of light and shade that also enhances the the depth of the the pictorial space 145