Princely ascetic in the forest visited by ladies
1760
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1760
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Princely ascetic in the forest visited by ladies is a 1760 unspecified by Unknown, a Mughal Painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a prince sitting under a tree while court women bring him wine, fruit, and a hookah. But look closer—the prince is actually a woman dressed in men’s clothes. The scene mixes a holy story with a playful party. The artist hid this twist in plain sight, making the painting feel both sacred and fun. To see more works like this, visit The Cleveland Museum of Art.
At first glance a group of court women has gathered to visit a prince who abandoned the palace to practice yoga, as indicated by the strap around the knees of the figure seated at the right. Upon close inspection, however, the prince is being “played” by a woman dressed for the part. All the components of a pleasurable courtly Mughal gathering are present. A sumptuous carpet, bottles of alcohol, fruit, a hookah, breath-freshening paan , and a woman playing a vina have been set up in the forest as if in the palace.
Hennaed fingers and jeweled anklets confirm that this prince is a woman.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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