Gopis Thinking of Krishna

In the foreground of this painting, a group of five gopis (milkmaids) are shown in engaging in different forms of contemplation over Krishna, the eighth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu who is worshipped as a god in his own right. Two converse with each other; two are seated, one of which has her hand under her chin; and the final one holds onto the branches of a tree. Her pose references the Virahotkanthita Nayika, (“One Distressed by Separation”), a heroine that waits for her lover to return from a long journey. Across the river, in the background, Krishna walks along the bank, outside the walls of a large, white city. Rajput School, Bikaner Style.