Dance to his Tune!

Painting is a way of exploring the external world, the reality of which is momentarily unquestioned. Rajput art in particular, is essentially an aristocratic folk art, static and lyrical.

India, to the outside world, is a land of sadhus and snake charmers. As if to justify their illusion, we have here an old snake charmer wearing a long flowing attire. The entire length of the turban is rolled crudely and tied up casually. The style of the turban denotes the arid region he belongs to. The beard and the stately moustache confirm that he is from the colorful land of Rajasthan. The land is colorful, but the painting is contrary, sporting subdued shades.

What is most striking in this painting is the face which is penetrating and expressive. Eyes are full of concentration, hands are in action - two movements imperative in the performance of his art of making the slithering reptile dance to his tune. Another accessory of his art, the 'bin', or trumpet, the sound of which is said to attract the snake is lying close to him, the function of which seems to have been accomplished. The basket which is the temporary abode of the snake lies open with its lid next to it. Another snake lies coiled in the other basket tied up in the cloth. The snake in the picture is the one commonly found in the region and is fatally poisonous.

The whole painting bears Rajput impress in its fluent naturalism but is free of the pretensions and the aridity which had creeped into conventional art of that period.

This description by Renu Rana.