THE BHANG SHOP
Jaipur, Rajasthan, North-Western India, mid to late 19th century

THE BHANG SHOP
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTION
Jaipur, Rajasthan, North-Western India, mid to late 19th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, the large vertical composition depicting a truly traditional scene of Indian culture, a shop serving bhang (edible cannabis preparation), the male clients mostly seated on striped, Ikat-like mats waiting for the shop ladies to serve them the intoxicating mixture, some half-clad male attendants helping with the preparation of the concoction, others fully dressed bringing in more bunches of cannabis leaves, most clients bewildered and mesmerized by the lady playing the tambourine, the true focus of the game of glances taking place here, her pantaloons and robe lasciviously open on her intimate parts and bosoms, the scene livened by a great variety of animals in the foreground including chicks and a baby monkey, encased within yellow, green and turquoise borders with bird and floral motifs, the recto plain, 51cm x 39.8cm.

Dimensions: 51cm x 39.8cm