Yogini Playing the Veena

Woman playing the veena. Rajput miniature.

India / South Asia Collection

Accession Nr.: 2328
Type: painting
Date of production:
18th-19th c.
Period of Rajput kingdoms
Place of production:
Acquisition: donation of Imre Schwaiger
Materials: paint (pigment); paper
Techniques: watercolor
Dimensions: height: 8.8 cm
width: 6.5 cm
Rajput painting developed in North India is one of the most prominent schools of Hindu painting style. The painting shows a female yoga practitioner ascetic, a yogini, playing on a traditional Indian stringed instrument, the veena. It is believed that when a yogini plays music, she enchants even nature itself with her music.
In the picture, the yogini can be seen on the roof of a building, kneeling on tiger skin, turning half to the right, a Sivaite painting on his forehead. Siva is the god of yoga, this is why the practitioner wears Siva's mark on her forehead. The lady practices yoga, which is the discipline of body and mind in a homely, urban setting. There is a spiritual, devotional smile on her face.
A thick and richly crafted border frames the picture which at once close to nature still urban. The frame shows green grape motifs on a red background.