Page 144 - Eye of the beholder

are dressed in in yellow yellow and and green wear simple yet delicate jewellery and and the one in in yellow yellow is is carrying a a a a a a a a garment that is is in in in in combination of of grey and red resonating to the attire of of the the the the attendant on on on the the the the right There is is another sakhi seated in in front of the the the the main protagonist apparently with a a a a a a a a bowl of sandalwood paste to cool her biting anger but she is restrained angrily not to make make such an an attempt since her her emotional condition will make make her her burn more rather than sooth This sakhi is is similarly dressed like Radha her her her features echoing hers as well well as as the the fine and and precisely designed jewellery and and the the sartorial attire which has a a a a a a a a a large oval shape fashioned in in front making her gown provocative Her hands are also hennaed and and and and her right hand is is raised conveying to to Radha to to be still and and and and not show so much anger and and and and restlessness Behind the the seated sakhi can be seen another attendant who is carrying a a a a a a a a a lamp and and bringing towards Radha Her sartorial attire is extremely simple as she wears ghagra and and odhini in in in in a a a a a a a a combination of grey and red The entire action is taking place on on on an an open terrace behind which can be be seen a a a a a a a a a a a a marble pavilion with a a a a a a a a a a a a chajja and a a a a a a a a a a a a parapet A rolled up curtain in in blue similar to the the the bolster is is evident Behind it is is the the the grey walls of the the the room which are delicately outlined with with decorative niches and a a a a a a rolled up curtain in in in in red print with with a a a a a a yellow is at the entrance to this chamber These are the the the main characters in in in in the the the interplay of of separation of of love represented in in in in the the the middle and foreground while the the the the background has other activities Beyond the the the the open terrace in the the the the background is is an an an opening through which an an an attendant is is entering with with two others busy with with their daily chores A high wall surrounds this part of the the palace and beyond that can be be seen another structure which which is one storied and with with an an an an open pavilion on on on top within which which can be seen two women one wearing a a a a red red outfit and getting the reclining low bed ready with red red bedspread with the help of an an elderly woman draped in white The artist has taken delight in in representing complexity of architectural structures as as as well as as as the details The perspective is equally challenging with different views representing upper stories pavilion with corridor and and doorway leading to the the interior While the the chajjas and and parapets predominate and emphasize the the horizontal elements in in the the composition two vertical towers one ending with with a a a a a a a round dome and the the the other with with a a a a a a a pyramidal roof provide the the the balance of of horizontals and and verticals in in creating a a a a a a a a unified and and a a a a a a a a harmonious composition The painting is alive with action postures and gestures making it it equally dramatic Compositionally the the the main protagonist is is the the the elegant flowing line that contours the the the lovely female forms and architectural elements which in in in its poetic grace remains unrivalled in in in Indian miniature tradition The numerous colours are equally subdued subtle and nuanced enhancing the the the lyricism of of the the the whole Despite the the the affiliation and juxtaposition of of many colours the the the colour red dominates the the the whole painting symbolically also manifesting the the the significance of love in separation The dark blue border picked out with yellow ochre floral motif is surrounded by a a a wider pink one which contains contains painting of of four cartouches on on on on each of of its sides It contains contains the representation of of two ducks the bird forms of of which are precisely outlined and also shown in in in motion as one is walking the the red webbed feet represented with clarity Interestingly the the cartouche on on top of of the the painting has the the representation of of two birds mating that significantly carries the the the the metaphor of of the the the the condition of of the the the the restless Radha and her desire for the the the the union with her beloved 138