Artwork
Untitled

Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 18.85.7
- Credit line
- Rogers Fund, 1918
About this work
Two men sit under a tree playing stringed instruments while a peacock struts nearby. Painted in central India around 1630 to 1640 by an unknown hand, in opaque watercolor whose white-mixed pigment reads as solid color. Each peacock feather is built from tiny strokes, almost like embroidery.
Subject & Meaning
The composition integrates a peafowl alongside the human figure, suggesting a symbolic or narrative connection between the performer and the bird.
Created in 1635 in India, this ink and opaque watercolor on paper depicts a genre scene centered on a musician holding a musical instrument. The composition integrates a peafowl alongside the human figure, suggesting a symbolic or narrative connection between the performer and the bird. As a work by an anonymous artist, the specific identity of the musician remains unknown, yet the inclusion of the peafowl, a bird often associated with royalty, beauty, or divine presence in South Asian iconography, implies a meaning beyond a simple portrait.
The juxtaposition of the musical performance with the peafowl may represent themes of harmony, courtly life, or spiritual resonance, characteristic of the artistic traditions of the region during the seventeenth century.
Technique & Style
Created in 1635 in India, this anonymous work is executed in ink and opaque watercolor on paper. The piece measures 33.7 cm in height by 24.8 cm in width. Stylistically, it functions as a genre scene, depicting a musician holding a musical instrument alongside a peafowl.
The classification as a painting highlights the application of pigments to create the figural and animal forms within the composition. The specific combination of ink lines with opaque color washes defines the visual texture and depth of the image.
History & Provenance
The unsigned ink and opaque watercolor on paper, dated to 1635, was produced in India by an unknown artist. The work depicts a man with a musical instrument alongside a musician and a peafowl, consistent with genre scenes of the period. It entered the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently catalogued as part of the museum’s painting collection. No earlier ownership or commission details are recorded in the available sources.
The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as recorded in its Wikidata entry. No specific accession number is provided in the available sources, so the precise inventory designation cannot be confirmed. Likewise, the available documentation does not list any exhibition history for the painting, leaving its display record unestablished beyond its current institutional placement.
Overview
This untitled painting, rendered with ink and opaque watercolor on paper, depicts a serene scene from central India. Created between approximately 1630 and 1640, it showcases two figures engaged in music under a tree, accompanied by a peacock. The work exemplifies the vibrant palette and meticulous detail characteristic of regional Indian painting from this period, though the artist remains unidentified.
Context
The style and subject matter of this painting align with artistic traditions prevalent in central India during the 17th century. Works from this region, particularly Madhya Pradesh, often share characteristics such as bright coloration, detailed natural elements, and depictions of courtly or leisurely pursuits. Examining other paintings from this specific area can reveal further insights into its artistic conventions.
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