Open full image Pin

Untitled

Unknown

1971

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Contemporary

Dominant colour

Untitled is a 1971 paint by Unknown, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1971
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows two big circles filled with tiny shapes. The circles look like they’re made of lace or woven fabric. Around them are swirls, leaves, and little flowers in brown, red, and cream colors. The edges have a repeating pattern of ovals and vines. The circles might be baskets or nets, but they’re drawn in a way that looks delicate and precise. The colors are soft, and the lines are clean and sharp. If you like this style, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

The work is a 1971 ink-on-paper painting in the aripana style, featuring geometric Madhubani patterns. It belongs to the Madhubani tradition, which originated in Mithila, Northern Bihar, where Hindu women from Brahmin and Kyshath castes historically created such designs on household walls. The style, documented after a 1934 earthquake by W.G. Archer, gained wider recognition in the 1960s when artists began producing it on paper for commercial sale.

Read the full account in the museum source.