Accession Number
1976/2.42

Title
Dancing Krishna holding butter-balls

Artist(s)
Indian

Artist Nationality
Indian (South Asian)

Object Creation Date
17th century - 18th century

Medium & Support
copper alloy with gilt

Dimensions
4 1/2 in x 3 1/4 in x 2 3/16 in (11.5 cm x 8.3 cm x 5.5 cm);4 1/2 in x 3 1/4 in x 2 3/16 in (11.5 cm x 8.3 cm x 5.5 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel

Label copy
March 28, 2009
This plump child would grow up to be the charming, beautiful young cowherd Krishna, described in stories of pastoral beauty and simple, unaffected, human love. Here he is shown dancing with two butter balls stolen from the churn, a reference to the most popular of his many childish pranks. Delighted with his antics, he dances in glee. This bronze figure combines ecstatic motion, sublime beauty, regality, and folly. A deeply human incarnation of Vishnu, Krishna generates the familiar experience of parental love, with its mixture of pride, adoration, awe, and frustration.
(Label for UMMA South and Southeast Asia Gallery Opening Rotation, March 2009)

Subject matter
Krishna as a child, dancing. Krishna, a human incarnation of the god Vishnu, is extremely popular in Hinduism as is the object of worship in many temples and homes. He is worshipped in a variety of roles, that of epic hero, lover and as a child. Representing Bhakti, a medieval religious movement within Hinduism that relies on Faith, direct contact with the god, here he is loved as a child. One projects oneself into the role of a parent for the playful child Krishna. This represents one of his childish pranks, stealing butter. He is so delighted with his antics that he dances in glee.

Physical Description
small bronze figurine made by lost wax process. The child Krishna dances on one leg with his right one raised. He hold balls of butter in his hands, one outstretched to this side and the right one extended forward as if offering it to the viewer. He stands on a round lotus base placed on a square slab. He is naked, but is decorated with a vast assortment of jewelry. Necklaces that cross his chest and drop to his waist, decorated belts, shoulder pieces, rings, bracelets and earrings and elaborate decorations on his head fanning out from his ears and decorating his hair which is arranged in a flat chignon on the top of his head.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
figure

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Hinduism
Krishna
children (people by age group)
dance (discipline)