Radha Madhav
Artist: Raja Ravi Varma
Medium: Chromolithograph Postcard
Date: Circa early 1900s
Collection: APL Studio
This tender and devotional postcard by Raja Ravi Varma captures the divine love of Radha and Krishna (Madhav) — a love that transcends time, form, and even reality. Set against the calm backdrop of Vrindavan, this moment is suffused with intimacy and surrender. Radha, her arms lifted skyward and her face aglow in ecstasy, leans into Krishna’s embrace, reflecting the spiritual yearning and fulfillment central to Bhakti traditions.
Ravi Varma’s treatment of Radha-Krishna scenes is unique: blending romantic realism with divine symbolism, allowing viewers to feel both the human and transcendental nature of their bond. The soft outlines, muted twilight tones, and flowing body language express emotional harmony and divine union.
This postcard is part of a series of devotional prints that helped define Indian visual culture, particularly during the early 20th century. Through such imagery, Ravi Varma brought sacred stories into the homes and hearts of millions.
“Radha’s love was not of the world — it was of the soul.”
