Taking of the toll, Dana-Lila

c. 1760

Northern India, Pahari kingdoms

Medium

Measurements

Page: 26.2 x 19.9 cm (10 5/16 x 7 13/16 in.); Image: 21.2 x 17.9 cm (8 3/8 x 7 1/16 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.86

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

One milkmaid points to her mouth in a gesture of surprise.

Description

Radha, the blue god Krishna’s beloved, raises one hand, reddened with henna (temporary natural dye), to strike him. Cows and her companions look on. This interlude is based on a devotional poem written by Dev Datt (about 1673–1745), in which he imagines this scene. Radha has dressed up as a soldier of the evil tyrant Kamsa. She shouts, “You are accused of taking the toll from milkmaids. . . . You are a traitor!” In the distance at the top of the painting, Krishna’s friends, who do not know that the couple is playing, run away in fear.