AN ILLUSTRATION FROM A BARAMASA SERIES: LADIES ON A SWING CELEBRATING THE MONTH OF SHRAAVANA (MONSOON)
Rajasthan, North-Western India, 19th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting two courtly ladies on a swing surrounded by a cheering crowd, to the left a Rajput ruler raising his hand in sign of warning, his consort calming him by touching his chest with a reassuring gesture, the scene depicting a typical moment in the Hindu calendar, the celebration of the Swing Festival (Haryali Teej) marked on the third day of the bright half of the Shraavana Lunar month when the monsoon starts, the verso with a black ink Devanagari inscription, 30cm x 21.3cm.

Dimensions: 30cm x 21.3cm.