The Hindu deity Krishna and his consort sheltered from the rain by an umbrella

Krishna is often seen by his devotees from a mystical perspective as an ideal lover and beloved. He arouses such intense devotion, that those in love with him no longer care about worldly concerns or social conventions. This aspect of the deity has inspired poets and artists for centuries, and among the favorite subjects of artists from the Punjab Hills region, especially during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, was to show Krishna in romantic settings.

Here, Krishna and his beloved enjoy a barefoot walk in the rain through the lush forest. They are enclosed in their private world, filled with sounds of nature and music from Krishna’s flute (which he holds in his hand).