Painting, month of Karttik, Baramasa, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Bikaner, ca. 1725

Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, part of a Baramasa series illustrating the months of the year by showing the activities of lovers; the month of Karttik is represented here. A man approaches a woman in a pavilion, while in the background the same figures play a game of chaupar. The nobleman wears saffron-yellow jama and orange Rathor pagri. Through the open rear window, cypresses and flowering trees can be seen. In the foreground are schematic steps and railings in plain yellow, maroon, grey and red. In the background landscape, two men bathe in a pool, a noble couple play chaupar, and two women execute a rangoli design (associated with the month of Karttika). Another bed with cushions stands on the roof of the pavilion, in a chattri with curving eaves.

A man approaches a woman in a pavilion, while in the background the same figures play a game of chaupar.

This is an illustration to a set of paintings known as barahmasa or 'twelve months'. They use the activities of lovers and nature to illustrate the months and seasons. This page, from a dispersed set, shows the month of Karttik, roughly equivalent to November/December. Here a nobleman is visiting a lady at her home. Outside two women are drawing a floor design (rangoli) in rice paste, and a couple are playing a board game called pachisi or chaupar. The festival of Diwali falls during Karttik, and it is traditional to play games, and often make a bet, at this time.
The style of the painting is typical of Bikaner in Rajasthan in the early 18th century, and appears to be the work of the court artist Murad.

IS.32-1980