BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Unknown (Rajasthan)
A Lady with a Black Buck, 18th century

Idealized portraits of women were common within the Rajput kingdoms, in what is today northwestern India. Many Hindu devotional texts describe women's beauty, which symbolized the divine. Women are often portrayed as romantic heroines yearning to be united with their lovers.The subject matter for this watercolor is possibly derived from an Indian musical composition that tells the story of a lady walking in a forest. A deer follows closely, beguiled by her lovely music.