A picchavai depicting four maidens dancing at the autumn full moon (Sarat Purnama) Rajasthan, probably Kotah, late 19th Painting on cotton Traces of use, utilisation patine and 4 little accidents of the main caractère. Tiny white painting spots and water traces. 188 cm / 127 cm Pichwai with a 19th patine looking similar at this following on: https://asia.si.edu/explore -art-culture/collections/search /edanmdm:fsg_S1992.23/ Pichhwai (also pichwai, pichhavai, pichhvai, pechhavai etc), literally meaning 'that which hangs from the back' from the Sanskrit words "Pichh" means back and "wais" means hanging, are large devotional Hindu painted pictures, normally on cloth, which portray Krishna. They are mainly made to hang in Hindu temples of the Pushtimarg devotional tradition, especially the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, built around 1672. They are hung behind the idol of Shrinathji, a local form of Krishna and the centre of Pushtimarg worship, to depict his leelas. Aurangabad was another area associated with them. The purpose of pichhwais, other than artistic appeal, is to narrate tales of Krishna to the illiterate. Temples have sets with different images, which are changed according to the calendar of festivals celebrating the deity. Description 77. Un picchavai représentant quatre jeunes filles dansant à la pleine lune d'automne (Sarat Purnama) Rajasthan, probablement Kotah, fin 19e/20e siècle gouache sur tissu, encadré Au-dessus des jeunes filles se trouvent des couples divins montés sur des chars célestes, et à leurs pieds coule la rivière Jumna. Pour une composition très similaire, faisant peut-être partie d'une tenture plus grande, datée du deuxième quart du XIXe siècle, voir R. Skelton, Rajasthani Temple Hangings of the Krishna Cult, New York 1973, pp. 50-51, no. 10.