Couple in Moonlight

Indian miniatures have always sought to arrest beauty in its stillness which, endowed with a kind of celestial calm, delights with great vigor and charm. Rajasthani miniatures, while depicting romantic love blend sensuality, elegance and grace.

The depiction of the theme, as in most Rajasthani paintings, is narration, but at the same time, its each part has its independent entity. This miniature is well composed both in color balance and visual and formative proportion. Red, yellow and green is used with great thrust, trees are drawn in great symmetry in varied tones of green and white architecture provides a befitting background.

The couple engaged in love dalliance is seated on the terrace. The man rests against a huge bolster, with two smaller ones lying scattered. He appears to have come back from the battlefront as his sword and shield lie close to the floral carpet the couple sits on. The man and his woman have facial features belonging to the Bundi art style: receding hairline, giving the forehead a wider look, not so sharp noses and a small rounded chin. The woman wears a flowing, long sleeved dress that parts where the bodice ends. She wears deep red, tight pajamas and her head is covered with a transparent odhini. Pearls form most part of the jewelry that she wears. The man wears a turmeric yellow jama with an orange sash and a matching colored turban which is tied in a local Rajasthani style and decorated likewise.

In the foreground lie a 'huqqa', (a smoking pipe), a lamp and two flowering pots. The background is divided into two: the left half is occupied by architectural structure and the right side has a clear, blue sky with a full moon with a pair of swans flying towards the building.

Fine color combination and compositional unity form the highlight of this miniature painting.

This description by Kiranjyot.

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Of Related Interest:

The Spasms of Torment (Painting from the Bundi School)

A Night of Passion (Mughal Painting)

Krishna Dragging Radha to his Bosom (Hindu Painting)

The Use of Colors in the Rajput School of Miniature Paintings (Article)