Krishna stealing the clothes of gopis

The theme of this Indian miniature painting in Kangra style is taken from an episode in the Bhagavata Purana, the great Indian book of scripture. Krishna steals the clothes of the gopis while they were bathing in the river Yamuna and climbs up a nearby Kadamba tree and refuses to return the clothes unless they come out of the river one by one and bow to him with folded palms. Finding Krishna impervious to their pleadings and cajoling, the gopis are forced to come out of the river, trying to cover their nakedness and shivering with the cold. This is one of the most enchanting Pahari paintings in the miniature art form from India.