Page from the Late Shah Jahan Album: Harem Night-Bathing Scene (recto) Mughal India, court of Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–58)

Page from the Late Shah Jahan Album: Harem Night-Bathing Scene (recto)

c. 1653

Mughal India, court of Shah Jahan

(reigned 1628–58)

Overall: 37.8 x 27.3 cm (14 7/8 x 10 3/4 in.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alton W. Whitehouse 1987.153.a

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Description

At least two scenes of women bathing under the moonlight were included in the Late Shah Jahan Album. In this painting eight women of the palace have removed their outer garments and jewelry down to their white petticoats to swim and dally in a luxurious marble pool. One male figure, who may be a eunuch guard or an imagined voyeur, looks on unnoticed, pointing to his mouth in a gesture of astonishment, perhaps at the beauty of the scene. He walks toward a small enclosure that matches descriptions of ceremonial ablution rooms set up in the women's quarters. The fully dressed women in the top and bottom border examine strings of pearls and other jewelry pieces while the attendants on the side bring perfumes and containers probably with other jewels for inspection.