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The Story Behind the Work
“*The Story Behind This Artwork:*This painting is titled *"Raag in the Zenana - An Evening of Learning"*In the 18th century, inside the royal palace of Lahore, evenings in the Zenana (the private quarters for royal women) were not just about leisure, but about _taleem-o-tarbiyat_ — education and culture.The lady in lavender is Princess Zeb-un-Nisa, known for her love for poetry and knowledge. She is not just listening to music, she is holding a _takhti_ — a wooden slate where she writes couplets she hears.The two women beside her are not just servants, they are her _ustads_ — one is a master of sitar from Delhi, the other a folk singer from Rajasthan. Every evening after Maghrib, they would gather around the small pool in the courtyard, where the sound of water mixed with the ragas.Outside the palace there were wars and politics, but inside this courtyard, time stopped. It was a world of art, poetry, and sisterhood.This painting captures that exact moment — when a princess chose art over power, and a melody became her lesson for the day.It's not just a painting, it's a window into a forgotten, graceful world where women kept culture alive behind palace walls.”
Story, method and disclosure
This is a fine Mughal miniature painting depicting an intimate courtly scene within a palace courtyard. The composition features three female figures — a central noblewoman in a lavender ensemble holding a takhti, attended by two musicians in blue and red playing classical instruments.The setting is richly detailed with ornate cusped arches, intricately carved pillars, floral arabesque patterns, and a reflective water channel overlooking a lush garden. The artist has employed a soft, harmonious palette of pastel purples, indigo, and terracotta, with delicate brushwork evident in the jewelry, textiles, and architectural ornamentation.The work evokes themes of leisure, culture, and refinement in the zenana, capturing a moment of music and learning under a tranquil evening sky.*Medium:* Watercolor / gouache on paper, in traditional miniature technique.
21 × 27 × 3 cm. Measure your wall and leave breathing room around the work.
Original work declared by the seller.
Afshan Naz
Afshan Naz is a Pakistani miniature artist based in Lahore. She holds a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Punjab and received specialized training in miniature painting under renowned master miniaturist Ustad Bashir Ahmed at the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore.Naz’s prac
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