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Asavari Ragini, page from a Garland of Musical Ragas (Ragamala) Set

Unknown

1670

watercolor

paper

From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago

Baroque Mughal Painting Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

Asavari Ragini, page from a Garland of Musical Ragas (Ragamala) Set is a 1670 watercolor by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Art Institute of Chicago.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1670 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Art Institute of Chicago

About this work

A woman sits on a terrace under a night sky, plucking a stringed instrument. Stars twinkle above her, and a small dog curls at her feet. The colors are bright—deep blues, soft pinks, and gold accents. This painting is part of a *Ragamala*, a set of images meant to show different musical moods. Each one matches a type of song, like a visual playlist. The artist used tiny brushstrokes to add details, like the folds in her sari or the pattern on the floor. To see more works like this, look up *glazing*—a technique where thin layers of paint build up rich colors.