An illustration from a Bhagavata Purana series: The gopis go in search of Krishna in the forest of Brindavan, India, Bilaspur, circa 1700-20

This illustration and the text on the reverse suggests that it relates to the Rasa Lila (the Dance of Divine Love) from the Bhagavata Purana. Under the red glow of the moon, on an autumnal night, Krishna plays his flute in the forest of Vrindavan. Hearing the music, the gopis leave their household chores and are drawn to the forest in search of Krishna. They are depicted on the left looking a little dejected as Krishna tries in vain to persuade them to return to their homes. When they insist on staying on, Krishna embraces them all and goes on to dance with them individually.

Other paintings from this series are published in Archer 1976, no.35, pp.62-63; Ehnbom 1985, no.106, pp.214-5; Poster et al. 1994, nos.194, 195, pp.240-1; Losty 2010, no.58, pp.136-7 (from the James Ivory collection).