The Gopis Plead with Krishna to Return Their Clothing: Folio from "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana

Art Historical Context

This vibrant folio from the “Isarda” Bhagavata Purana captures a beloved episode from Hindu scripture. Painted in North India around 0–65, it shows Krishna perched in a tree with the gopis’ garments while the young women stand waist-deep in the river, their hands raised in playful supplication. The scene illustrates the divine’s teasing affection and the soul’s longing for union with the sacred—a central theme in devotional literature of the period. Created with opaque watercolor and delicate ink lines on paper, the painting exemplifies the luminous palette and rhythmic compositions favored by the Master of the “Isarda” Bhagavata Purana. Fine brushwork defines the flowing river, grazing deer, and expressive gestures of the figures, all set against a stylized landscape that draws the eye upward toward Krishna. Such manuscripts were often produced for courtly or pious patrons who valued both the sacred narrative and the visual delight of richly colored illustrations. Measuring just over seven by ten inches, the intimate scale invites close viewing, rewarding visitors with layers of symbolic detail and the lively charm of early Rajput painting traditions flourishing in the Delhi-Agra region.