Vastraharana (Krishna steals the gopis’ saris)

This image depicts the legend of Krishna stealing clothing from milkmaids (gopis) while they bathe in the Yamuna River. The god sits in a tall tree, having hung the women’s saris on branches beyond their reach. Some of the gopis implore him to return the garments to restore their modesty. This is a favorite subject for artists depicting the adolescent pranks of Krishna’s youth as it foretells the passionate devotionalism (bhakti) celebrated through Krishna’s romance with Radha (herself a gopi). The artist, Hira Lal Karmaka, introduced a level of photographic realism, that renders the women as almost recognizable individuals. This makes their nudity somewhat shocking in a devotional lithograph. Pointedly, the unusual title given to this subject, Vastraharana, comes from the Marathi phrase “to disrobe.”