Artwork
A Nakiya, probably Proshitaperyasi Nayika
A Nakiya, probably Proshitaperyasi Nayika is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts two women dressed in vivid, patterned garments within an interior space.
About this work
History & Provenance
No further details regarding commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum are documented in the available sources.
The painting was created in 1740, as recorded in both the corpus record and the Wikidata entry for the work, which lists an inception date of 1740-01-01. It is classified as a painting and is attributed to an unknown artist. The work is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is identified by the accession number 2018.100.
No further details regarding commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum are documented in the available sources.
The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is listed under its accession number 2018.100. It has been part of the museum's exhibition schedule, including a 2018 presentation of Indian miniature paintings.
The work is catalogued as accession 2018.100 and was first displayed in the museum's 2018 exhibition on Indian miniature paintings.
Legacy
The painting A Nakiya, probably Proshitaperyasi Nayika, attributed to an unknown artist, has been part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection since at least 2018, where it is cataloged under the accession number 2018.100. Its attribution remains uncertain, though stylistic analysis suggests a possible connection to Proshitaperyasi Nayika, a name associated with regional artistic traditions of the 18th century. The work is classified as a painting from 1740 and is held in Cleveland, Ohio, where it continues to be studied within the museum's South Asian art holdings.
Overview
The work depicts two women dressed in vivid, patterned garments within an interior space. One figure is seated on an ornamented bench, swathed in red and gold fabric, while the other stands nearby, holding a blue cloth. A white‑washed building with arched windows forms the backdrop, its walls opening onto a view of green foliage.
Subject & Meaning
The seated woman clutches a red cloth to her face, a gesture that can be read as an expression of distress or fatigue. The standing figure appears to be extending assistance, creating a moment of quiet interaction that suggests concern or consolation between the two subjects.
Technique & Style
Executed in bold, saturated hues, particularly reds, yellows, and greens, the painting employs a flat decorative surface and clear outlines typical of certain regional folk traditions. The patterned clothing and stylized architecture emphasize surface pattern over realistic depth.
Context
The composition reflects a domestic scene that aligns with visual conventions found in South Asian miniature and folk painting, where everyday moments are rendered with vivid coloration and symbolic gestures.
Artist & collection
