Artwork
Malkaus Raga, from Ragamala
Malkaus Raga, from Ragamala is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Malkaus Raga, part of a Ragamala series, is a painted composition that depicts a lively gathering of figures rendered in vivid hues.
About this work
History & Provenance
The painting titled Malkaus Raga, from Ragamala, was created in 1610. It is attributed to an unknown artist and classified as a painting. The work is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, where it was accessioned under the number 1981.32.
Context
The work is attributed to an unknown artist, reflecting the collaborative, often anonymous workshop practices common in early 17th-century Indian painting.
Malkaus Raga, from Ragamala is a 1610 painting held in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection. It belongs to the Ragamala series genre, depicting musical modes personified as scenes. The work is attributed to an unknown artist, reflecting the collaborative, often anonymous workshop practices common in early 17th-century Indian painting.
Its presence in a modern encyclopedic collection highlights ongoing scholarly interest in regional variations of this literary-miniature tradition. Current research contextualizes such works within the broader cultural exchange between Persianate artistic conventions and local Indian aesthetics during the Mughal period.
Overview
Malkaus Raga, part of a Ragamala series, is a painted composition that depicts a lively gathering of figures rendered in vivid hues. Central to the scene is a dancing woman in a green skirt and red blouse, surrounded by seated musicians, onlookers, and domestic details such as a pot and animals, all set before a building with a balcony and a red wall.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates a festive moment, likely connected to the musical mode (raga) suggested by its title. The central dancer’s dynamic pose and the presence of instrumentalists convey a celebration of music and dance, themes common to Ragamala imagery, which traditionally visualizes the emotional character of specific ragas.
Technique & Style
Executed with a bright palette, the painting employs contrasting reds, greens, golds, and a blue background to create visual intensity. Figures are outlined with clear contours, and decorative details, such as patterned clothing and architectural elements, are rendered with a flat, stylized approach typical of Indian courtly painting traditions.
Artist & collection
