Krishna at the spring festival of Holi, c. 1790, Kangra, (The Archer Collection)
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Archer, William George
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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Krishna and the cowherds are doing battle with Radha and the cowgirls in the spring festival of Holi. The festival is proceeding with the spirited smoothness of a ballet and the gaiety of a joyous romp. In palette, the picture exemplifies the greater warmth of colour that distinguishes painting at Kangra from painting at Guler. There is also a greater brio, a zest for quickly seized poses and a keener sense of life in action. Naturalism is exploited, but never at the expense of rhythm or design. It is easy to see Sansar Chand's own vital enthusiasm in this heightening of the Guler style and its transformation from a cult of the pallid to a cult of the passionate. At Holi, the streams of red water supposedly mimic the spurts of blood that issued from the cow demon, Vatsasura, killed by Krishna in Brnadaban. -- 8.75 x 6 inches.
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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