Krishna art has been practiced in India for centuries. Krishna artists use their skills to create vivid depictions of Krishna’s life, as well as Krishna’s many avatars and stories from Hindu mythology. Krishna paintings are usually found inside temples or homes- they can be used for meditation, prayer, and other religious rituals to connect with the divine Krishna.
What is Krishna art
Krishna is a form of art that has been practiced in India for centuries. Krishna artists use their skills to create vivid depictions of Krishna’s life, as well as Kinshasa’s many avatars and stories from Hindu mythology. Krishna paintings are usually found inside Kinshasa or home- they can be used for permission, prayer, and other religious kinesics to connect with the divine Krishna.
Krishna art has evolved rapidly throughout the years since it was first practiced in Indian temples. Krishna artists in the past used their skills to depict Krishna’s many avatars, as well as Krishna’s life. Krishna paintings were usually found in homes- they were used for meditation and prayer rituals to connect with Krishna, or can be hung on walls in order to decorate a room.
How Krishna art has changed over the years
Krishna’s art has changed over the years, with changes in styles depending on different periods. For instance, Krishna art from the Mughal period is characterized by a back-piece design that was used for courts.
Style 1:
Elements are distributed uniformly across the entire surface of the artwork, with no focal points. Figures are drawn either in profile or three-quarter view, and their facial features are minimal if they’re drawn at all. Krishna devotees usually use this type of Krishna art to offer Krishna with his consorts radura and Surabhi.
Style 2:
This Krishna art has an asymmetrical layout, with important elements grouped toward one side. The Krishna figure is often shown holding Krishna playing the flute, and may also hold Krishna dolls.
Style 3:
The Krishna art of this period has an asymmetrical layout that allows the artwork to accommodate the Krishna painting within the physical confines of the Krishna shrine. Krishna is shown either in profile or frontal view, with his feet below Krishna playing the flute.
Style 4:
This Krishna art has an asymmetrical layout that places in the center of Krishna playing the flute surrounded by Krishna. Krishna is drawn with two-dimensional and three-dimensional effects, and Krishna dolls may be depicted in the Krishna playing the flute.
Style 5:
The use of Krishna art was developed to depict Krishna’s life in a series of paintings called “chaurasia kand”. Krishna art is shown with Krishna playing the flute, Krishna dolls, Krishna cows, and Krishna monkeys. Krishna art is also depicted in Krishna avatar stories.
style 6:
This Krishna art features Krishna with makuta headdresses, Krishna dolls, Krishna cows, Krishna monkeys, and Krishna playing the flute. Krishnas are shown in profile or have frontal views, with their feet below Krishna playing the flute.
The different styles of Krishna paintings and what they represent
There are many different artistic styles of Krishna paintings. Typically Krishna paintings are found in temples and these paintings will portray Krishna in his various forms, Krishna’s life, Krishna’s stories, etc.
These paintings typically have their own style depending on the artist that is painting them. So it can be difficult to categorize Krishna into one particular style or another. Some Krishna paintings that were completed years ago maybe more abstract or geometric but then there are some Krishna orders that are done by modern artists which may be more realistic and even somewhat abstract as well. One Krishna painting may have Krishna in a very specific pose and another Krishna painting may show Krishna in a similar pose but the Krishna facial features will be slightly different or it shows Krishna from a different perspective.
An example of this would be the Keshava temple in Somanathapura India. This Krishna temple was built in 1590 and since its construction, many Krishna orders have been completed for this Somanathapura temple. So regardless of the time period or even who is creating these Krishnas, they typically will still maintain a similar style and theme. The Keshava Somanathapura temple Krishna paintings typically have Krishna with his four-armed forms. So these Krishnas will typically show Krishna in the color yellow and he’ll be shown with his four arms instead of two. He also has a flute that is near him or in his right hand. Sometimes Krishnas are shown playing the flute but other times Krishnas are shown with the flute near them. These Krishnas also show Krishna’s peacock feather crown and his yellow kurta which is what he typically wears in these Krishna paintings. He’ll be shown playing his flute, you can see Krishna dancing or playing games with the gopals and the cowherds, etc.
