Krishna Rajagopalaswamy, king of the cowherds 1768 - 1799

This image, created by the Tirupati School in South India, depicts Krishna Rajagopalaswamy, the king of cowherds. Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu, is central to Hindu theology, embodying divine joy and love. The Tirupati style flourished within a context of religious devotion and artistic patronage, reflecting the cultural values of its time. The choice to depict Krishna as a king of cowherds speaks to the deity’s connection with the everyday lives of ordinary people, transcending traditional hierarchies of power. The figure next to Krishna is the female character who is devoted to him. Krishna's youthful, radiant form challenges conventional notions of masculinity, and his association with music and dance invites viewers to experience the divine through sensory pleasure. This image offers a narrative beyond the traditional, as it invites us to explore the intersections of divinity, love, and human experience.