A pichhvai is a large painted textile panel, often embellished with gold and silver highlights, which is hung during religious festivals to honour Krishna through depictions of episodes from his life. These textiles frequently feature scenes of Krishna’s childhood in the forests of Vrindavan, along the banks of the Yamuna. Here, the child Krishna is surrounded by a multitude of cows, recalling his role as a cowherd. This pichhvai is associated with the festival of Gopashtami, which commemorates the occasion when Krishna, having reached adolescence, was entrusted by his father, Nanda, with the care of the herds of Vrindavan.

Another example, attributed to Kutch, Gujarat, was sold at Christie’s, New York, on 20 March 2019, lot 730.