Sitting in a garden, a young woman examines her reflection in a mirror. Beside her are two woman attendants.
AKM469, A Maiden Beautifies Herself

© The Aga Khan Museum

Back of painting, cardboard backing with thin red boarder and writing in pencil.
AKM469, A Maiden Beautifies Herself

© The Aga Khan Museum

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A Maiden Beautifies Herself
  • Accession Number:AKM469
  • Place:India, Kangra
  • Dimensions:29.7 cm × 23 cm
  • Date:ca. 1800-1810
  • Materials and Technique:Opaque watercolour on paper.

Sitting in a garden planted with banana trees and blossoming jasmine plants, a young woman examines her reflection in a mirror. While this painting may appear to depict a generic palace scene, it likely belongs to a set of paintings depicting musical modes. The mode Vilaval is a tune meant to be performed in the morning during the spring season, and is expressed in images of a woman with two attendants, beautifying herself for her lover’s arrival.

- Marika Sardar

Note: This online resource is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. We are committed to improving this information and will revise and update knowledge about this object as it becomes available.

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