Head of Krishna: cartoon for a mural of the Raslila

Sahib Ram

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This drawing is thought to have been a preparatory study for a mural. Although it first served as a pounce— its lines were pricked with tiny holes to allow the image to be transferred to a wall—it was later reworked into a finished drawing by Sahib Ram, who strengthened its outlines, whited out areas he wished to change, and brushed Krishna’s skin and clothing with luminous washes of watercolor. The drawing is based on an earlier work by the artist Sahib Ram that shows a dancing girl dressed as Krishna.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art