Goswami Balkrishnalalji Maharaj (1868-1917) of
Kankroli in a procession
by Nathdwara Haveli artist
circa 1880 CE
Gouache on paper
13.5 x 10.6 in. (34.3 x 26.9 cm.)
Front: “Shri Bal Krishnalalji Kankroli”
Goswami Balkrishnalalji of Kankroli in a royal procession, possibly commemorating the ‘Chunari Gangaur’. Chunari Gangaur is an important festival of Shrinathji Haveli in Nathdwara and is also
celebrated at other centers of Pushtimarg including Kankroli. All the participants in the procession have red and golden chunari tied as their waist cloth and turbans; similar chunari is also draped around the nisan (royal insignia).
Artist presented a curious mixture of perspectives as he struggled with the photo-realism and traditional idioms. While the procession is shown moving to the right of composition, the Goswami absurdly turns to his right to face the viewers and shows his frontal face which is finished with realistic touches.