The Colors of Rajasthan

Craft represents the great cultural heritage of India. Rajasthan in particular has the glorious inherited tradition of handicrafts which has existed through the centuries. Here, a combination of fine Makrana marble tile, dazzling paint colors and stone studded jewelry, together present a picture original in concept and excellent in style.

This beautiful woman faces the viewer yet looks sideways. Her well drawn eyes are full of expression. The sensuous lips are tightly pursed and let the eyes do the talking. A royal straight nose connects the two. People of Rajasthan make up for the lack of color in their arid land by wearing sparkling bright colored costumes. Her parrot green odhini and bright pink choli vouch for that. Jewelry in India is on a magnitude that has a few parallels - in variety and aesthetics. She wears a 'shringar patti' which has a circular plaque suspended on the middle of the forehead with a fringe on either side consisting of drops of pearls hanging from it. An elaborate pair of earrings, exquisite in design cover the entire ear. Pearls strung in a wire pass through her left nostril. She wears a necklace of great allure and very much a part of the Jaipur opulence - gold studded with white, red and green stones. Pearls are extensively used, not only in strings hanging down her neck but around the gem set ornaments also.

The graceful figure with her dignified poise and naturalness in expression provides a glow to the painting. The restless eyes of the viewer moves from the beauty of the woman to that of her jewelry and from there to the resplendent colors, trying to imbibe the total beauty at one glance.

This description by Renu Rana.