Artwork
Seated Prince Smoking a Hookah
Seated Prince Smoking a Hookah is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1712 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts three figures seated on a low, striped platform.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts three figures seated on a low, striped platform. The central figure leans forward, drawing on a curved hookah whose long, red tube arches overhead. The scene is set against a plain green wall, while vivid reds, yellows and greens dominate the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a social gathering centered on the shared act of smoking a hookah. The participants are dressed in simple white garments, one accented with a red sash and another with a red‑flowered robe and black turban, suggesting a relaxed, possibly aristocratic or courtly setting.
Technique & Style
Rendered in bright, saturated pigments, the artist emphasizes contrast between the colorful figures and the muted background. The curved hookah tube creates a visual bridge across the composition, while the small brass lamp on a black stand adds a subtle focal point.
History & Provenance
The piece is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed alongside other works of similar period and theme.
Context
Hookah scenes were a common motif in Eastern artistic traditions, often used to convey leisure, hospitality, and the pleasures of courtly life. The use of vivid color and decorative clothing aligns with aesthetic conventions of such genre paintings.
Artist & collection
