Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1735 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A woman in a bright red sari sits on the floor playing a tanpura, a stringed instrument. Painted in Rajasthan around 1735, the work layers transparent and opaque watercolor, with gold leaf lighting up her jewelry and the instrument. The maker is unknown, but the careful lines and soft shading show real skill.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a musician holding a musical instrument alongside a woman, a composition categorized as a portrait within the broader genre of portraiture. Executed in ink, opaque and transparent watercolor with gold accents on paper in 1735, the work originates from India and is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. Its iconography centers on the figure of a musician, suggesting the cultural appreciation of music in early 18th‑century Indian artistic practice, while the presence of a female figure may indicate a symbolic or narrative element typical of portrait conventions of the period.
Technique & Style
7 centimeters, a vertical format suited to the figural portrait format depicting a female musician with her instrument.
Executed in 1735, this portrait is rendered in ink combined with both opaque and transparent watercolor, heightened with gold on paper, a technique characteristic of Indian manuscript and miniature painting traditions of the period. The mixed handling of opaque and transparent washes allows for layered modeling of flesh tones and textiles, while the application of gold produces luminous accents in ornament, jewelry, or costume details. The composition is presented on a paper support measuring 47 by 33.7 centimeters, a vertical format suited to the figural portrait format depicting a female musician with her instrument.
The combination of ink drawing, watercolor washes, and gold leaf or shell-gold pigment reflects a refined courtly workshop practice, balancing linear precision with delicate coloristic effects.
History & Provenance
Created in 1735 in India, this untitled ink and watercolor portrait on paper was executed by an anonymous artist. The work, which depicts a female musician with an instrument, utilizes opaque and transparent watercolors enhanced with gold. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the identity of its original patron remain unrecorded in the available documentation, the piece has entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The museum currently houses the painting, where it is classified within its paintings department. No further details regarding intermediate ownership or the precise chain of custody prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the current records.
The 1735 work titled Untitled is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Created in India using ink, opaque and transparent watercolor, and gold on paper, the piece measures 47 by 33.7 centimeters. While the artwork is attributed to an anonymous painter and depicts a woman musician with an instrument, the available records do not specify a particular accession or inventory number for the piece. Furthermore, no information regarding its exhibition history is provided in the current documentation.
Overview
This untitled painting, created in Rajasthan, India, around 1735, depicts a solitary female figure. Rendered with ink, watercolor, and gold on paper, the artwork exemplifies the refined aesthetic of its period. It showcases a woman engrossed in playing a stringed instrument, her form adorned in a vibrant red sari, reflecting a common subject in regional art traditions.
Context
This artwork belongs to a rich tradition of painting from Rajasthan, a region in India renowned for its distinctive artistic output. Viewers interested in exploring similar works from this cultural sphere may consult collections categorized under India (Rajasthan). These paintings frequently share stylistic elements and thematic concerns, offering insight into the visual culture of the time.
Artist & collection
