Manbhajan

The title of this print refers to a popular song in Bengali recounting Krishna’s efforts to appease his lover Radha, angered by his flirtatious behavior. Its’ literal meaning is “breaking of the icy reserve.” Krishna had won the hearts of all the women of the cowherd community (gopis) but it was towards Radha that he most directed his affections. His wanderings angered here and in this depiction we see a melancholy Radha sitting on a rock with Krishna kneeling before her, begging her forgiveness. Other gopis look on, some disapproving of their Lord’s behavior, others taking pleasure in Radha’s discomfort. Krishna is shown with a dark complexion, (the ‘blue-lord’) and crowned and cloaked in a princely manner. The treatment is that of high Victorian melodrama, with richly dressed young women play acting village cowherders in a romanticized bucolic setting.