Artwork

Battle of the Forces of Krishna and Bana, from a copy of the Dispersed Bhagavat Purana

Battle of the Forces of Krishna and Bana, from a copy of the Dispersed Bhagavat Purana is a watercolor painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

About this work

Overview

The work depicts a densely populated battlefield in which the blue‑skinned deity Krishna confronts the demon army of Bana, while celestial beings observe from above. Every inch of the surface is occupied by miniature figures—warriors, elephants, and arrows—creating a narrative tableau that emphasizes action over spatial realism.

Subject & Meaning

Taken from a passage of the Bhagavata Purana, the scene illustrates a mythic episode in which Krishna defeats the tyrant king Bana, symbolising the triumph of divine order over chaotic forces. The presence of gods as spectators underscores the cosmic significance of the conflict within Hindu theological tradition.

Technique & Style

Executed in opaque watercolor on paper, the painting employs flat, vivid pigments and a highly decorative composition. The dense arrangement of tiny, stylised figures reflects a narrative illustration approach typical of manuscript copies, where clarity of story takes precedence over naturalistic perspective.

History & Provenance

The piece is a hand‑made copy of an illustration originally found in the Dispersed Bhagavata Purana, produced in a pre‑modern workshop context. It survives as one of many such reproductions created for devotional or instructional purposes, later entering the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.