Ras Kreeda

This oleograph of Krishna called “Ras Kreeda” by the artist Vasudeo H. Pandya, was printed in Germany. Published by Shree Vasudeo Picture Co., Ras Kreeda or Ras Krida, is part of a traditional story described in Hindu texts such as the Bhagavata Purana and Gita Govinda, where Krishna dances with the gopis of Braj. Krishna is the god of compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities. Krishna is shown in the oleograph having multiplied himself so that he dances with each of the gopis in the moonlight. They dance in a circle around Krishna, who also stands in the centre playing the flute.
Vasudeo H. Pandya (1896-1970) was an Indian painter from Gujarat. He initially worked as a document copier in Bombay in a European firm, but became fascinated by the oleograph labels the goods came wrapped in and began to paint emulating their style. He would later travel to Germany and have his works printed as oleographs, as Ravi Varma was doing at the time.
The oleograph is dated in the left-hand corner under the signature.