Untitled

Created in 1800 in India, this anonymous painting is executed on paper using a combination of ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold. The work measures 16.8 centimeters in height and 5.8 centimeters in width, suggesting a narrow, vertical format typical of specific genre scenes from the period. The artist employed these metallic and pigmented materials to depict a scene featuring a woman, a duck, and fireworks.

The inclusion of silver and gold alongside watercolor indicates a technique that blends drawing and painting traditions to create a luminous, decorative effect. As an object held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the piece represents a specific instance of early 19th-century Indian genre painting, utilizing mixed media to render its subject matter.

The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is cataloged as an anonymous Indian painting dated to circa 1800. It entered the museum's holdings as part of its South and Southeast Asian collection and remains in its permanent installation in New York.

This untitled painting, created around 1800 in the Punjab Hills of northern India, uses ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper. It depicts two women in vibrant saris beside a pond at night, with ducks on the water and fireworks illuminating the sky. The work exemplifies a delicate aesthetic from the region.

This painting aligns with the artistic traditions of the Punjab Hills, particularly styles associated with the Kangra school. Works from this region often share a quiet and shimmering quality, emphasizing delicate detail and emotional subtlety. It represents a broader artistic movement known for its refined aesthetic and narrative depth.