Artwork
Malkaus Raga
Malkaus Raga is a paint painting by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1750, this opaque watercolor on paper portrays a scene linked to the Indian musical mode known as Malkaus Raga. The composition features a woman and a man positioned on a bright yellow balcony, surrounded by red flowers and a vivid sky, serving as a visual illustration of the raga’s character.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures—a reclining woman and a seated lover—are depicted in intimate interaction, the woman holding a fan while the man is seated on a low couch. Their attire and posture suggest a romantic or courtly encounter, embodying the emotive qualities traditionally associated with the Malkaus Raga.
Technique & Style
Executed in opaque watercolor, the work employs flat, saturated hues without gradated shading, giving each element a crisp edge. A decorative border crowded with tiny red blossoms on an orange field frames the scene, enhancing its lively rhythm. The lack of chiaroscuro emphasizes the decorative, almost ornamental quality typical of mid‑18th‑century South Asian painting.
History & Provenance
The painting dates to the mid‑18th century, a period when visual representations of musical modes were common in courtly art. Though its precise origin remains undocumented, the piece is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection, where it is displayed alongside comparable works that explore the intersection of music and visual culture.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
