Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1709 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Artists used fine brushes and thin layers of paint, almost like colored glass, to show fabric folds and jewelry.
You see a woman in a red sari, standing against a flat gold background. She holds a flower, and her eyes look sideways.
This painting was made in Rajasthan in 1709, long before cameras. Artists used fine brushes and thin layers of paint, almost like colored glass, to show fabric folds and jewelry. The gold isn’t just shiny; it’s real gold leaf pressed onto the paper.
If you like how light plays on gold, look up glazing.
Subject & Meaning
Created in India in 1709, this work is a portrait depicting a single woman. Executed with ink, opaque watercolor, and gilt on paper, the image focuses entirely on the female figure without additional narrative elements or complex iconography. As an untitled piece by an unknown artist, the painting serves primarily as a representation of its subject rather than illustrating a specific mythological scene or allegorical concept.
The use of gilt suggests a degree of prestige or decorative intent in the portrayal of the woman.
Technique & Style
The Untitled work is a painting on paper created with ink, opaque watercolor and gilt, a combination that produces both line work and areas of metallic highlight. Executed in 1709 in India, the piece measures 34.9 cm in height by 23.2 cm in width. It portrays a solitary woman, fitting the portrait genre, and its delicate handling of line and color reflects the stylistic conventions of Indian miniature painting. The artwork is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.
History & Provenance
The artwork was created in 1709 by an anonymous artist in India. Executed in ink, opaque watercolor, and gilt on paper, the piece measures 34.9 cm in height and 23.2 cm in width. It depicts a woman and is classified as a portrait painting.
The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No specific commission details, intermediate ownership records, accession number, or exhibition history are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This untitled painting, created in Rajasthan in 1709, features a solitary female figure. Rendered with ink, opaque watercolor, and gilt on paper, the artwork depicts a woman adorned in a red sari. She stands against a luminous gold ground, holding a single flower, her gaze directed to the side. This piece exemplifies the artistic traditions of its time and region.
Artist & collection
Untitled
Dhanasri Ragini
Vilaval Ragini
Pancham Raga
Ragini Desavaradi, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set
Krishna Watches A Juggler, from a copy of Bihari's Sat Sai
Ragini Madhumadhavi, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set
Kamodini Ragini
A deceitful lady
Ragini Kakubha, Page from a Jaipur Ragamala Set
Bhairava Raga- Untitled
