Harvard Art Museums > 1972.68: Yashoda Shows Krishna the Moon in a Mirror Paintings Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Yashoda Shows Krishna the Moon in a Mirror (Unknown Artist) , 1972.68,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Apr 24, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/215673. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1972.68 People Unknown Artist Title Yashoda Shows Krishna the Moon in a Mirror Classification Paintings Work Type painting Date 18th century Places Creation Place: South Asia, India, Himachal Pradesh Culture Indian Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/215673 Physical Descriptions Medium Opaque watercolor, ink, and metallic pigment on paper; Pahari Style Dimensions 22.86 x 16.35 cm (9 x 6 7/16 in.) Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of John Kenneth Galbraith Accession Year 1972 Object Number 1972.68 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description In this painting, the infant Krishna, who is the eighth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu and is worshipped as a deity in his own right, points to a mirror, which reflects the moon, on the ground. His mother, Yashoda, holds onto his other hand. Yashoda points with her free hand up towards the moon in the sky. A female attendant accompanies them, holding up a flywhisk. The painting depicts part of a story in which Krishna asks for the moon. When seeing it in the sky, he asked Yashoda what it was. She responded, “That is the moon, God’s toy.” Upon hearing the word “toy”, Krishna demanded it. Yashoda tried to distract Krishna with other toys, but was unsuccessful. Yashoda’s attendant suggests that Yashoda use a mirror to reflect the moon, bringing it closer to Krishna, which worked. Pahari Style. Exhibition History Ambassador's Choice: The Galbraith Collection of Indian Painting, Harvard University Art Museums, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 02/15/1986 - 04/06/1986 Rasika, the Discerning Connoisseur: Indian Paintings from the John Kenneth Galbraith Collection, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 01/31/1998 - 04/05/1998 Verification Level This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
