Artwork
Maid bringing a hookah to a lady (recto), from a Kalighat album
Maid bringing a hookah to a lady (recto), from a Kalighat album is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work presents a pair of women positioned side by side against a muted beige backdrop.
About this work
Overview
The work presents a pair of women positioned side by side against a muted beige backdrop. The figure on the left wears a vivid green garment and holds a hookah, while the companion in orange clutches a flower. Both are richly accessorised with jewellery and their hair is gathered into a long braid, creating a striking contrast between the bright costumes and the subdued background.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes leisure and ornamentation: the hookah suggests a moment of social relaxation, whereas the flower may symbolize femininity or decorative flourish. The pairing of the two figures, each in a distinct hue, emphasizes individuality within a shared cultural setting, hinting at everyday domestic scenes common in the Kalighat tradition.
Technique & Style
Executed in the flat, linear manner typical of Kalighat paintings, the piece relies on bold colour blocks and minimal shading. The figures are outlined with clear contours, and the decorative elements, jewellery, braid, and floral motif, are rendered with precise, graphic detail, reflecting the commercial print aesthetic of 19th‑century Bengal.
Context
Kalighat paintings emerged from the bustling shrine of Kalighat in Kolkata, where itinerant artists produced affordable prints for a growing urban clientele. This work follows that lineage, employing the genre’s characteristic simplicity and vivid palette to capture a slice of contemporary life for a popular audience.
Artist & collection
- Leaf from a Kalighat album: Maid bringing a hookah to a lady (recto); Krishna weighed against precious objects(?) (verso)
Maid bringing a hookah to a lady (recto), from a Kalighat album
Leaf from a Kalighat album: Maid bringing a hookah to a lady (recto); Krishna weighed against precious objects(?) (verso)
The Goddess Kali (recto), from a Kalighat album