Title
A dancer with a nattuvanar
Year/Period
19th century
Region
Mysore, Karnataka, south India
Material
Technique
Dimension
Image size: L 30.5 x W 22.8 cm
Accession No.
1999-02701
Collection of
The dancer is seated in a murumandi pose (squatting fully on the floor) with one knee resting on the floor, a typical posture used in abhinaya (histrionics) by classical dancers even today in India. In this painting, the dancer's right hand holds the suchi hasta (pointed index finger) and the facial expression suggests she is in deep thought. The nattuvanar (conductor of the dance) plays the cymbals to coordinate with the dancer’s footwork and possibly singing as well standing close to her, perhaps a poem referring to a love-lorn nayika, heroine. This painting belongs to a set of court paintings from Karnataka.
