Curator

  • Art Institute Chicago
  • Harvard art museum
  • My Exhibition
An opaque watercolor painting depicting a standing woman who is dressed in a long white dress and veil behind her head. The woman stands in the center and is looking down at a bush with jewelry and flowers on it. Behind her are some trees and in front of her is dark, waving water. The piece is framed with a thin, floral frame.

Vipralabdha Nayika Casts off Her Jewelry into a Bed of Flowers

Indian

In the center of the image is the Vipralabdha Nayika (“the Deceived Heroine”), the heroine who waited for her lover the whole night, only to be deceived by him. She throws away the jewelry he gave her as he did not keep his promise. The nayika wears a white, gold-trimmed dress and a white, gold-trimmed head scarf. She is adorned with necklaces, head ornaments, earrings, necklaces, armlets, bracelets, rings, and a nose ring. Her right arm is extended over a large bed of flowers. She removes an armlet from her right arm to cast it into the bed of flowers that already contains some of her jewelry. Behind her is a hilly landscape with various types of trees with individually-painted leaves. A large silver full moon is set against a blue sky. The reflection of the moon can be seen in the blue-grey river comprising white-lined waves. Pahari Style, Kangra School.

Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper

Paintings