Vasant Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes)
Here Krishna dances to the beat of a drum and cymbals played by women standing at either side of him. The new shoots emerging out of the pot Krishna holds in one hand and the flowering trees above the figures are iconography consistent with the ragini’s association with spring festivals celebrating the coming abundance. Malwa paintings of this period break space into sections, such as the central field of bold color behind the protagonists, and nature is often presented in terms of pattern, as seen with the band of blooming lilies at the bottom of the sheet.
Artwork Details
- Title: Vasant Ragini: Folio from a ragamala series (Garland of Musical Modes)
- Date: ca. 1630–40
- Culture: India (Madhya Pradesh, Malwa)
- Medium: Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
- Dimensions: 7 5/8 x 5 3/4 in. (19.4 x 14.6 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1918
- Object Number: 18.85.6
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.