Artwork Page for Women playing at cross-dressing

Details / Information for Women playing at cross-dressing

Women playing at cross-dressing

c. 1680–1700; border added 1800s

India, Golconda, Deccan, 17th century

Medium
ink heightened with colors on paper
Measurements
Page: 33.5 x 26.7 cm (13 3/16 x 10 1/2 in.); Painting: 23.6 x 16 cm (9 5/16 x 6 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 2013.290
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Heavy eyelids give a languorous quality to paintings made in Golconda.

Description

In this scene harem women act out the visit of a prince. One of them has donned a man’s royal feathered turban, and a lady affectionately offers a cup of wine as attendants stand by with two more bottles, a fan, and a rose. The master artist of an Indian painting workshop would draw the composition and make visual notations as to which colors and patterns should be used. The drawing would then be given to a colorist to paint, with final details rendered by another artist or the initial master.
A vertically oriented ink drawing heightened with colors depicts five women with light skin tones. On the left, a standing woman in a male-styled tunic holds a fan. Three women sit on large cushions near a tray of vessels, while a fifth stands to the right. Two wear hats. Below, two birds stand near a small water channel. A decorative floral border of red and blue flowers frames the scene on tan paper.

Women playing at cross-dressing

c. 1680–1700; border added 1800s

India, Golconda, Deccan, 17th century

See Also

  • Collection
    Indian
  • Department
    Indian and Southeast Asian Art
  • Type of artwork
    Painting
  • Medium
    Ink on paper
  • Credit line
    Gift In Honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by Exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork