Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting by the Pahari Painting artist Nainsukh. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created by the artist Nainsukh in 1777, the image focuses on the individual figure rather than a broader narrative scene or complex allegorical setting.
The work depicts a single woman, presented within the genre of portraiture. Created by the artist Nainsukh in 1777, the image focuses on the individual figure rather than a broader narrative scene or complex allegorical setting. As a portrait, the piece centers on the representation of this female subject, capturing her likeness through the use of ink and transparent watercolor on paper.
The composition does not include additional figures or environmental context that would suggest a specific mythological event or symbolic story beyond the presence of the woman herself.
Technique & Style
Created in 1777 by the artist Nainsukh, this portrait depicts a woman using ink and transparent watercolor applied to paper. The work exemplifies the classification of paintings within the Indian artistic tradition, characterized by the delicate application of pigments to create a translucent visual effect. The composition focuses on the figure of the woman, utilizing the specific medium to achieve fine detail typical of the period's portraiture.
History & Provenance
Created in 1777 in India, this ink and transparent watercolor portrait on paper is attributed to the artist Nainsukh. The work, which depicts a woman, entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held. No specific details regarding its commission or intermediate ownership history prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the available records.
Overview
This untitled work, created around 1778 by the artist Nainsukh, is an ink and transparent watercolor painting on paper. It presents a solitary female figure, depicted in a moment of repose. The composition highlights her delicate posture, leaning against a pillow, with her features partially obscured by a veil, adorned in a red skirt and gold jewelry.
Context
Nainsukh was a prominent artist working for royal patrons in the Pahari hills region of India. This particular painting, with its intimate scale and subject, was likely intended as a component of a larger royal album. Such albums were often compiled for the private enjoyment of rulers, featuring diverse scenes that offered glimpses into courtly life or idealized beauty.
Artist & collection
Untitled
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Untitled
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The old procuress conveys the young man’s message of love to Mansur’s wife, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot: Seventeenth Night
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Untitled
A woman mistakes a cow for the Angel of Death, from a Lights of Canopus (Anwar-i Suhaili) of Kashifi (Iranian, d. 1504)
Dhanasri Ragini
Untitled