Radha and Krishna as Children

Painted by an artist trained in the naturalistic technique, and in a way that shows strong influences of Madonna iconography, this artwork depicts Krishna and Radha as a child couple. They sit in front of Yashoda, who assumes the role of a protector. The iconography was made following traditional rules of vamangi seating. Radha is placed on Krishna's left side; Yashoda holds on to Krishna's left hand with her right hand and places her left hand on Krishna's shoulder-in turn showing that while Yashoda protects both children, a clear preference is given to her son Krishna, whose hand she grasps. Three other elder women are also shown, who may be Duti, Lalita and Visakha (as presented in the Dodhimanthan printed illustration). It is also possible, although unlikely, that the three women could be the different mother-figures to the two protagonists, such as Rohini and Kirtida. This painting may also be studied as being pro-child marriage, which was common in the subcontinent during the nineteenth century.