Graceful Handcrafted Leather Radha Painting

How is Radha dressed in this piece?

Radha stands as a cut-out figure in a red checked skirt and a green blouse, with a crown on her head. Her jewellery is shown in beaded, dotted patterns, and teal, black and cream touches fill in the details. The red checks give the figure a strong, graphic look from a distance.

What do the beaded details look like up close?

Up close, her jewellery is made of rows of small dots, created by the hand-painted perforation work. Tiny holes carved into the leather sit together with painted detail, so the ornaments look like strings of beads laid over the figure's red and green costume.

Who is the artist?

This Radha is handcrafted by State Award-winning artist Raghavendra of Nimmalakunta, Andhra Pradesh. He works in leather puppetry, an ancient folk art of the region, using traditional tools, naturally available materials and natural dye colours, the way the craft has long been practised.

How is it made?

The design is first drawn on genuine leather, then dyed with natural colours. The leather is carved and holed by hand, using traditional tools and iron frames, to give the figure its outline and its dotted ornaments. This mix of carving, holing and painting is what makes the figure look so lifelike.

Where would the Radha look good in my home?

With its red, green and gold palette, it suits a living room wall, a puja area or a staircase. On a white or cream wall the red checks and dotted jewellery stand out clearly. Choose from 1-foot, 2-foot or 5-foot life-size heights depending on how much wall space you have.