The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 17, 2025

Yasoda with Krishna Churning Butter

c. 1890

Eastern India, Kolkata, Kalighat

Gum tempera, ink, graphite, and tin on paper
Secondary Support: 51.3 x 35.6 cm (20 3/16 x 14 in.); Painting only: 45 x 27.8 cm (17 11/16 x 10 15/16 in.)
Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.160
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The Hindu god Krishna eats butter, like the sacrificial fire into which Brahman priests pour ghee.

Description

Yashoda, wife of the head of the cowherd village, raised Krishna from infancy. She is shown here churning milk into butter, while the mischievous toddler Krishna tips his hand in the pot to steal the rich cream. Kalighat paintings were made for pilgrims to take home and keep on domestic shrines. Made swiftly on inexpensive paper, they are a genre of art available to a wide swath of people.
  • ?–2003
    William E. Ward [1922–2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2003–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 1, 2021-February 6, 2022).
  • {{cite web|title=Yasoda with Krishna Churning Butter|url=false|author=|year=c. 1890|access-date=17 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.160