The artist has done this art on tussar cloth.  This picture depicts the Ragini genre. The Sultans or Kings of medieval era wished to see the representation of melodies in pictorial images in colours suggested by the tunes of Raga (representing melody moulds of the Indian musical system) and Raginis (representations of women symbolizing musical modes). These paintings are created in albums containing most often Thirty-six or Forty-two folio, organized in a system of families. Each family is headed by male Raga and contains five or six Raginis (wives) and sometimes Raga Putras (sons) and Raga Putris (daughters) and wives of the sons. Within the musical modes, a group of classification or distinction namely Raga denoting masculine and Raginis indicating feminine became popular . The principle characters of these paintings are aristocratic lords and ladies almost portraits of the patrons of these paintings. Ragini paintings are visual interpretations of Indian musical modes previously envisioned in divine or human forms by musicians and poets. They show most frequently romantic or devotional situation in a somewhat stereotyped, aristocratic settings.

This depicts the Asavari Ragini, whose parent raga is Sri Raga and Asavari is one of the five wives of Sri Raga. In this painting of Asavari Ragini, a lady sits in a landscape with a snake as if asking it about her beloved whom she is praising. This maiden is awaiting for her lover surrounded by trees and a large number of snakes, which have descended from the sandal tree attracted by the music to console her. The snakes here represent the unsatisfied longings of love. The elite lady is shown holding a snake indicating her magical powers and affection towards wild creatures. There is a water body filled with lotus flowers. 

The painting has really intricate precisions on the figures, flora and fauna. Notice the transparent veil (Odhinis) over the maidenÔÇÖs head, a snake charmerÔÇÖs pipe lying next to her, a jug etc. Strong earthy colours of the background accentuate the ladyÔÇÖs ornaments in white, necklace, bangles, nose ring etc). Her feet are painted red/ orange to show the colour of the mehendi or the Henna plant. In India, women traditionally used this to colour their hands and feet, sometimes with intricate designs and sometimes just anointing the fingers and toes. This acts as an antiseptic for cracked heels and cuticles. When the painting is placed against the light, the yellow / gold lines reflect. Originally, they were made using gold. The picture is complete with a floral border that looks like its frame. The flowers again are made in gold paints with tiny buds in silver paints.

Art Form ÔÇô Mughal Art with the Ragini theme

Material: Tussar cloth and natural and acrylic dyes/ colours

Maintenance and cleaning: Take a dry cloth and wipe the surface. The colours donÔÇÖt fade since it is based out of natural dyes

Note: - This is an unframed piece