Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Chokha in ca. 1800–10.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Mughal Painting.

Untitled by Chokha (ca. 1800–10) · Meaning & Museum

Accession no.: 2006.451
Credit line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2006

About this work

Under a roiling bank of black thunderclouds, a nobleman scales a rope toward a palace jharokha where his lover reclines among attendants.

Under a roiling bank of black thunderclouds, a nobleman scales a rope toward a palace jharokha where his lover reclines among attendants. Cows, guards, and peacocks sleep undisturbed below as the brightly colored figures command the dark Mewar landscape. Attributed to Chokha and painted around 1805 in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, this scene of forbidden longing entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2006.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a nighttime landscape featuring a palace, a man, a woman, and animals including cattle and horses, with the theme of sleep prominent. The iconography suggests a tranquil nocturnal scene, where the palace setting implies a royal or elite context. The presence of sleeping figures and domesticated animals evokes a sense of rest and harmony between human, animal, and architectural elements.

As a landscape, the composition likely aimed to capture an idealized moment of peaceful repose, combining pastoral life with the grandeur of a palace under the cover of night.

Technique & Style

The medium is opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper. The artist uses gold for decorative highlights. The composition is a landscape set at night, featuring a palace, sleeping figures, cattle, and horses.

Stylistically, the work uses flat color areas and fine line work, typical of Indian miniature painting of the early 1800s. The formal arrangement places the palace prominently with figures and animals in the foreground.

Overview

This painting, attributed to Chokha and created in Udaipur around 1800–1810, depicts a clandestine rendezvous. Rendered in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, the scene captures a nobleman ascending a rope to meet his beloved within a fortified palace. The work was acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2006, where it serves as an important example of early nineteenth-century Rajput narrative art.

Context

Chokha initially trained in the extensive workshops of Udaipur, benefiting from the patronage of Maharana Bhim Singh. Following his father, Bagta, to Devgarh in 1811, Chokha assumed the role of principal court painter for Rawat Gokul Das II. During this period, he cultivated a unique artistic approach, moving beyond the more rigid stylistic norms prevalent in Mewar painting and establishing his individual contribution to Rajput art.

History & Provenance

This painting entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2006. Its acquisition was made possible through the Friends of Asian Art Gifts, and it is cataloged under the object number 2006.451. The work represents a significant addition to the museum's holdings of early nineteenth-century Rajput art, illustrating key developments in narrative painting from the region.