Manbhajan
The title of this print refers to a popular song in Bengali recounting Krishna’s efforts to appease his lover Radha, angered by his flirtatious behavior. Its’ literal meaning is “breaking of the icy reserve.” Krishna had won the hearts of all the women of the cowherd community (gopis) but it was towards Radha that he most directed his affections. His wanderings angered here and in this depiction we see a melancholy Radha sitting on a rock with Krishna kneeling before her, begging her forgiveness. Other gopis look on, some disapproving of their Lord’s behavior, others taking pleasure in Radha’s discomfort. Krishna is shown with a dark complexion, (the ‘blue-lord’) and crowned and cloaked in a princely manner. The treatment is that of high Victorian melodrama, with richly dressed young women play acting village cowherders in a romanticized bucolic setting.
Artwork Details
- Title: Manbhajan
- Date: 1878–1883
- Culture: West Bengal, Calcutta
- Medium: Lithograph, printed in black and hand-coloring with watercolor and selectively applied glaze
- Dimensions: Sheet: 16 × 20 3/4 in. (40.6 × 52.7 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2021
- Object Number: 2021.208
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Shib Gobin Lal
ca. 1870–80
Sasadhar Banarjee
ca. 1875–85
G. C. Dass
Unidentified artist
ca. 1880–85 (recto); ca. 1875–85 (verso)
Sasadhar Banarjee
ca. 1875–85
The Hindu Art Studio
ca. 1880–85
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.