AlbumsMughal16th century

Woman Applying Kohl, painting from the Salim Album

c. 1590

Description

Against a seafoam green background stands a female figure. She wears a chaniya choli, which consists of a yellow crop top and a long, red skirt, and shoes decorated with pearls. Covering her head, draped around her shoulders, and cascading down her back is a translucent red shawl. Two large black tassels hang from her waist. She is adorned with necklaces, bracelets, an armlet, earrings, and a head ornament. With her left hand she holds up a mirror to her face, while her right hand applies kohl to her eyes. Her long, black hair falls behind her back, nearly to her feet, with an ornament at the end. The painting is set within a pasted border of gold flowers on red-dyed paper. Above and below the border are two blocks, each consisting of Persian calligraphy written in nasta‘liq script. The pasted outer border is made of brown-dyed paper decorated with gold flowers.

Classification

Albums

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Culture

Mughal

Period

Mughal period

Century

16th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

image with border: 17.2 x 9.6 cm (6 3/4 x 3 3/4 in.)

Provenance

Stuart Cary Welch (by 1983 - 2008), by descent; to his estate (2008-2009,) gift; to Harvard Art Museum. Notes: Object was part of long-term loan to Museum in 1983.

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