Janmastami celebrating the birth of Krishna

Description

Published by the Calcutta Art Studio, located in Calcutta, and later acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Historical context

This profound work captures one of the most sacred moments in Hindu mythology, the clandestine crossing of Vasudeva carrying the newborn divine infant Krishna across the swollen Yamuna River. Amidst a turbulent storm lit by jagged streaks of lightning, Vasudeva shelters the luminous child under a protective crimson mantle, safeguarding the future savior of the cosmos from the tyrannical wrath of Kansa. The jackal at the riverbank adds a traditional motif of an auspicious omen guiding the way, while divine light breaks through the heavy rain clouds to illuminate the holy infant. Created by the pioneering Calcutta Art Studio, this lithograph reflects the democratization of Indian sacred imagery, allowing households to welcome the divine narrative directly into their domestic shrines with immense reverence and emotional devotion.