Sindhu Raga
Unknown Artist
c. 1720
Medium
Gum tempera and ink on paper
Dimensions
48.1 × 27.9 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski
Accession Number
2004.110
About this artwork
The inscription at the top identifies this painting as Sindhu Raga, which is the raga (or musical mode) of heroic sentiment. The painting is meant to elicit the same feelings in the viewer as a rousing piece of music played in the Sindhu key. Paintings of Sindhu Raga depict battle scenes. In this example, the composition conveys the chaotic melee and violence of war. Heads are being lopped off; carrion birds swoop down unfazed. Above the horizon against the sky at the far right is the god of war...