Public domain
A woman drawing the portrait of her absent lover (Dhanashri ragini)
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
A ragini is a musical mode intended to evoke a certain emotional mood. This painting depicts such a melodic structure, Dhanashri ragini, or the yearning of a lonely woman for her absent lover. Yet this scene does not solely convey an artistic tradition. Many women – queens, princesses, courtesans – enjoyed an extensive education. According to tradition, there were women who wrote poetry in Sanskrit and Persian, painted and played music.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineA woman drawing the portrait of her absent lover (Dhanashri ragini). 1700 - 1749. anonymous. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
