Artwork
Taking of the toll, Dana-Lila
Taking of the toll, Dana-Lila is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This painting, titled 'Taking of the toll, Dana-Lila', depicts a scene from a devotional poem. It shows Radha, dressed as a soldier, playfully accusing Krishna, a Hindu god, of taking tolls from milkmaids.
Subject & Meaning
The scene is based on a poem by Dev Datt, where Radha, Krishna's beloved, disguises herself as a guard of the tyrant Kamsa and teasingly accuses Krishna of being a traitor. Krishna's friends flee in the background, unaware of the playful nature of the confrontation.
Technique & Style
The artist has rendered the scene with attention to detail, such as Radha's henna-stained hand, which adds a sense of realism. The painting is characteristic of the style associated with the Pahari kingdoms of northern India.
History & Provenance
The painting is unsigned, leaving the artist unknown. It is linked to the literary work of Dev Datt, who wrote the devotional poem around which the scene is based.
Artist & collection
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