A Lonely Woman among Deer (Todi Ragini)

Currently not on view

A Lonely Woman among Deer (Todi Ragini)

c. 1725

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Paintings using romantic imagery to simultaneously illustrate the modes of Indian music (ragas) and represent a variety of love relationships were produced in sets known as ragamalas, or ”garlands of ragas.” Todi Ragini personifies a musical mode that expresses the sentiment of a young woman passionately in love. Resting against her shoulder is her vina (lute), but only the playful deer can hear her sad, longing melody. The remoteness of the landscape, with its flat layers of metallic and cool colors, combines with the attentive animals to conjure a mood of tender longing.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

A Lonely Woman among Deer (Todi Ragini)
Page from a dispersed ragamala (garland of musical modes) series

Date:

c. 1725

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver-colored paint on paper

Dimensions:

Image: 9 1/2 × 5 7/8 inches (24.1 × 14.9 cm) Sheet: 17 1/8 × 9 5/8 inches (43.5 × 24.4 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Purchased with the Katharine Levin Farrell Fund, 1977

Accession Number:

1977-12-1

Geography:

Made in India, Asia Possibly made in Andhra Pradesh, India, Asia Possibly made in Telangana, India, Asia

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Currently not on view