Pichwai from The Deccan - Polychrome Gold and Silver Leaf - 1980's

This vibrant 1980s Pichwai from the Deccan is rendered in striking polychrome pigments with gold and silver leaf, creating a luminous surface that catches the light beautifully. Painted on cloth in the traditional manner, it depicts Krishna surrounded by gopis beneath flowering trees alive with birds and animals. The composition is framed by celestial figures above and a lotus-filled pond below, elements typical of devotional Pichwai art made for temple or shrine settings.

The combination of vivid colour, metallic detailing and finely patterned textiles gives this piece a celebratory character. Deccani workshops of the late 20th century continued older courtly painting traditions, and this example reflects that heritage through its delicate brushwork and rich iconography.

• Origin: Deccan, India
• Date: 1980s
• Materials: Cloth with polychrome pigments, gold leaf and silver leaf
• Features: Krishna with gopis; floral and animal motifs; celestial upper panel; lotus pond border
• Condition: Good vintage condition with expected wear to pigments and metallic leaf
• Dimensions: W100 x H145 cm