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.

Related Artworks

Albums

Portrait of a Youth Wearing Red Trousers and a Green Tunic

Unknown Artist, c. 1610

Opaque watercolor on paper

17th centuryOttoman

Albums

One of three pages from an album of calligraphy

Unknown Artist, 18th-19th century

Ink and gold on paper, with border of marbled paper

18th-19th centuryOttoman

Albums

Courtier Raja Anup Rai Intercepting a Lion Attack, with Mughal Emperor Jahangir and Prince Khurram, drawing (verso); Calligraphy (recto)

Abu’l Hasan, c. 1611-1630

verso: ink and color on paper; recto: ink, color and gold

17th centuryMughal

Albums

Princely Equestrian Portrait

Unknown Artist, 18th century

Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; Pahari Style.

18th centuryIndian

Albums

Praise for God, calligraphic composition

Unknown Artist, 1884

Ink and opaque watercolor on paper

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 46 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings:Two sheets: horse; Fath Ali Shah Qajar enthroned (recto); Blank page (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Top: black counterproof on off-white modern laid paper; Bottom: black counterproof, blue ink and graphite on beige Eastern (?) paper

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 22 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings: Sheet of portrait sketches and flowers (recto); Two sheets: dog and decorative frames; kneeling couple and mixed bouquet (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Brown counterproof on off-white wove paper; blind embossing on verso (recto); Top: red and brown inks over graphite on off-white wove paper (verso); Bottom: red ink over graphite, watercolor on off-white wove paper (verso)

19th centuryPersian