Who painted Khumba Raga?

Khumba Raga was painted by Unknown in 1700.

Where can I see Khumba Raga?

Khumba Raga is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Khumba Raga?

Khumba Raga is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Khumba Raga

Unknown , 1700

Khumba Raga is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This opaque watercolor on paper portrays a ragamala scene associated with the Kumbha raga.

About this work

Overview

This opaque watercolor on paper portrays a ragamala scene associated with the Kumbha raga. A princely figure stands opposite a young woman drawing water from a well, set against a grassy landscape. The composition is rendered in vivid hues and defined outlines, creating a flattened, decorative effect that captures a brief, narrative moment.

Subject & Meaning

The image illustrates a traditional Indian musical motif, linking visual art to the Kumbha raga. The prince and the water‑drawing girl suggest themes of courtly romance and ritual purification, common in ragamala iconography, where each raga is personified through a specific narrative tableau.

Technique & Style

Executed in opaque watercolor, the work employs bright, saturated pigments and strong contour lines that flatten spatial depth.

Executed in opaque watercolor, the work employs bright, saturated pigments and strong contour lines that flatten spatial depth. The artist emphasizes costume details—red dress with blue sleeves, gold ornaments, striped attire, and a feathered hat—while the stylized stack of patterned dishes adds decorative interest, reflecting a synthesis of Indian miniature aesthetics and early 20th‑century modernist influences.

History & Provenance

The painting formed part of a larger ragamala series acquired from the collection of Michael Rothenstein. In 1953 the series was purchased for £300, entering the museum’s holdings where it remains a representative example of cross‑cultural artistic exchange.