Khambhavati Ragini (painting, recto), from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series c. 1756

Curator: Khambhavati Ragini, attributed to Jai Kisan, presents a fascinating intersection of music and visual art. What strikes you most about it? Editor: The bright orange background and the architectural details on the pavilion are quite beautiful. I'm curious about the woman attending to the figure with four heads. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The vibrant colors are definitely striking. This piece belongs to a Ragamala series, where each painting embodies a specific musical mode. The figures aren't just illustrative; they're cultural representations of these musical forms, reflecting hierarchies of class, caste, and gender within the courtly culture that produced this art. Editor: That's fascinating! So, the woman and the seated figure aren't just characters in a scene? Curator: Exactly! They are active participants and embodiments of that culture’s societal structure, expressed through sound and image. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, the Ragamala paintings offer a powerful lens through which we can understand the intersectional narratives that helped shape Indian society at the time.