The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry by W. G. Archer, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: W. G. Archer ISBN: 9781465546029
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: W. G. Archer
ISBN: 9781465546029
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English

During the twentieth century, a certain type of Indian painting began to fascinate the West. Unlike Mughal art, it was a product of Hindu courts in Rajasthan and the Punjab Hills and unlike Mughal painting, its chief concern was with the varied phases of romance. Ladies would be shown brooding in their chambers as storm clouds mounted in the sky. A girl might be portrayed desperately fondling a plantain tree, gripping a pet falcon, the symbol of her lover, or hurrying through the rainy darkness intent only on reaching a longed-for tryst. A prince would appear lying on a terrace, his outstretched arms striving vainly to detain a calm beauty or welcoming with delight a bashful girl as she slowly advanced. In all these pictures, romantic love was treated as the highest good and physical passion was interpreted with a freshness and innocence unequalled in the world's art. Such paintings were, at first sight, easy to appreciate. Although they alternated between two methods of expression—the first a style of savage distortion, the second a style of the softest grace—each manner enlivened the common subject. Yet in two respects elucidation was vitally necessary. Just as in Japan, the lover might express his longings by cryptic references to Nature, the Indian artist employed poetic symbols to charge his subjects with romantic ardour. Flowers were never merely flowers nor clouds clouds. The symbols of Indian poetry—the lotus swaying in a stream, the flowering creeper embracing a trunk—were intended to suggest passion-haunted ladies. The mingling of clouds, rain and lightning symbolized the embraces of lovers, and commonplace objects such as dishes, vases, ewers and lamps were brought into subtle conjunction to hint at 'the right true end of love.' What, in fact, might seem at first sight to be a simple portrait, proved on closer understanding to be a study in despair, a revelation of delight or a clue to rapture, each image with its sexual implications contriving to express some nuance of longing. In these pictures, only a part of the meaning was apparent and without a comprehension of the poetry, much of its true significance was lost. Such an obstacle to understanding was real enough but, as the eye ranged over this new kind of love-painting, a second difficulty appeared. In many pictures, the lover had special characteristics. He was shown with a crown of peacock's feathers, clad in a golden dhoti and in every case his skin was mauve or slate-blue.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

During the twentieth century, a certain type of Indian painting began to fascinate the West. Unlike Mughal art, it was a product of Hindu courts in Rajasthan and the Punjab Hills and unlike Mughal painting, its chief concern was with the varied phases of romance. Ladies would be shown brooding in their chambers as storm clouds mounted in the sky. A girl might be portrayed desperately fondling a plantain tree, gripping a pet falcon, the symbol of her lover, or hurrying through the rainy darkness intent only on reaching a longed-for tryst. A prince would appear lying on a terrace, his outstretched arms striving vainly to detain a calm beauty or welcoming with delight a bashful girl as she slowly advanced. In all these pictures, romantic love was treated as the highest good and physical passion was interpreted with a freshness and innocence unequalled in the world's art. Such paintings were, at first sight, easy to appreciate. Although they alternated between two methods of expression—the first a style of savage distortion, the second a style of the softest grace—each manner enlivened the common subject. Yet in two respects elucidation was vitally necessary. Just as in Japan, the lover might express his longings by cryptic references to Nature, the Indian artist employed poetic symbols to charge his subjects with romantic ardour. Flowers were never merely flowers nor clouds clouds. The symbols of Indian poetry—the lotus swaying in a stream, the flowering creeper embracing a trunk—were intended to suggest passion-haunted ladies. The mingling of clouds, rain and lightning symbolized the embraces of lovers, and commonplace objects such as dishes, vases, ewers and lamps were brought into subtle conjunction to hint at 'the right true end of love.' What, in fact, might seem at first sight to be a simple portrait, proved on closer understanding to be a study in despair, a revelation of delight or a clue to rapture, each image with its sexual implications contriving to express some nuance of longing. In these pictures, only a part of the meaning was apparent and without a comprehension of the poetry, much of its true significance was lost. Such an obstacle to understanding was real enough but, as the eye ranged over this new kind of love-painting, a second difficulty appeared. In many pictures, the lover had special characteristics. He was shown with a crown of peacock's feathers, clad in a golden dhoti and in every case his skin was mauve or slate-blue.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book Two Sides of the Face: Midwinter Tales by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book On the Old Road: A Collection of Miscellaneous Essays and Articles on Art and Literature (Complete) by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book The Three Mulla-Mulgars by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book Crying for the Light or Fifty Years Ago (Complete) by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book Fruits of Culture by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book Christmas: Its Origin and Associations Together With Its Historical Events and Festive Celebrations During Nineteen Centuries by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book By Canadian Streams by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book Woman and Artist by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book Tales of Troy: Ulysses, the Sacker of Cities by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book Due North or Glimpses of Scandinavia and Russia by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book The Passion of St. Symphorosa and Her Seven Sons by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book Afar in the Forest by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book And Even Now by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book Legends of the Pike's Peak Region: The Sacred Myths of the Manitou by W. G. Archer
Cover of the book In the Land of Mosques & Minarets by W. G. Archer
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy