Art Quiz: The Answer is Rajasthan

What little I’ve learned of art history has focused on European and American art, so I’ve been introduced to a lot of new art styles and “schools” through this “Art Quiz” feature. All questions are from Encyclopedia Britannica, so that’s always a good resource for me when I want more information on the answers.

Here is what Britannica says about Kishangarh painting:

… 18th-century school of the Rājasthanī style of Indian painting that arose in the princely state of Kishangarh (central Rājasthān state). The school is clearly distinguished by its individualistic facial type and its religious intensity. The sensitive, refined features of the men and women are drawn with pointed noses and chins, deeply curved eyes, and serpentine locks of hair.

Below is an illustration of a Kishangarh painting.

Seeing this painting led me to read more about Radha and Krishna, the god and goddess shown here.

• Krishna is one of the most widely revered and most popular of all Indian divinities, worshipped as the eighth incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu and also as a supreme god in his own right.

• Radha, also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion.

As a child, Krishna was known and loved for his playful pranks. It is said that he also performed many miracles and was able to slay demons. A cowherd in his youth, he gained a reputation as a lover, and the sound of his flute was so beautiful that the wives and daughters of the other cowherds would leave their homes to come dance with Krishna in the moonlight. His favorite was the young woman Radha.

While browsing around, I came across a “paint-it-yourself” version of a “Radha Krishna” image. You can visit the Facebook group to download a line drawing. This can then be transferred to your canvas. Here is the link: Monachristy Crafts.

 

 

Although the Facebook group doesn’t appear to be active now — the last post is from July 2020 — there are still a lot of links to various arts and crafts projects.

As always, I’ve learned a lot from this Art Quiz question, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it, too.