Hand-Painted Pichwai-Style Panel - Gopis & Cattle

This hand-painted Pichwai (pichvai)-style wooden panel is a modern decorative work inspired by the devotional temple paintings of Nathdwara, Rajasthan. Traditionally created as cloth hangings for Krishna temples, Pichwai paintings are known for their symbolic imagery, rich colour palettes, and layered narrative scenes celebrating pastoral life, devotion, and abundance.

At the centre of the composition stands a sacred flowering tree, anchoring the scene visually and symbolically. Beneath it, elegantly dressed gopi figures are arranged in mirrored procession, while stylised cattle move across the lower register, referencing the agrarian and pastoral themes closely associated with Krishna-related Pichwai imagery. Above, winged celestial figures drift through a dark, star-speckled sky, lending the scene a sense of cosmic balance and spiritual guardianship.

Executed on a solid wooden panel rather than cloth, the surface is intentionally finished with a softly aged character. Light distressing and tonal variation evoke the visual depth of historic examples while clearly presenting the work as a contemporary interpretation rather than a ritual object. A decorative floral border frames the panel, and strong metal hangers are fitted to the reverse, making it ready to display.

• Origin: Rajasthan, India
• Date: Modern (late 20th–21st century)
• Materials: Hand-painted wooden panel
• Features: Sacred tree, gopi figures, pastoral cattle, celestial figures, floral border
• Condition: Decorative aged finish with intentional wear and surface variation
• Dimensions: W92 × D5 × H153 cm