Madhu Madhavi Ragini
Unknown Artist
c. 1630–40
Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
19.1 × 14.6 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of J. H. Wade
Accession Number
1925.1336
About this artwork
One of the first paintings to be published and exhibited as an example of native Indian court painting without foreign stylistic influence, this work emphasizes the expression of mood and emotion rather than pictorial narrative. Through bold contrasting color, suggestive gaze, and poetic trope, the viewer accesses the charged excitement of lovers about to be united with the coming of the monsoon at night. The reclining hero admires the alluring form of his beloved who, startled by the lightning ...