Important Notice

BASOHLI, CIRCA 1700
Inscribed in Takri and Nagari, "Raga Shoshar son of Malkos Raga" at the top
Gouache on paper heightened with gold
Image: 6 x 5.75 in (15.2 x 14.6 cm)
Folio: 7.75 x 7.5 in (19.6 x 19 cm)

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY

PROVENANCE
The Tandan Collection

PUBLISHED
R K Tandan, Pahari Ragamalas, Bangalore: Natesan Publishers, 1983, fig. 24 (illustrated)


Ragaputra Shoshara of Malkosa, sometimes referred to as Khokara putra, belongs to the Malkosa raga family which is represented with a pea-green background and a red border. According to Mesakarna, the visual representation for this ragaputra is represented by "a man dancing happily, in loose-fitting garments, to the music of clouds (thunder?) and the beat of drums." (Ebeling, Ragamala Painting, p. 74) The artist has interpreted this description differently: here, three acrobats are shown engaged in physical exercises. The central figure is entwined around a pole.

Visually it bears a similarity to the Rajasthani iconography depicting Desakh ragini (see lot 17), where the central figure is similarly depicted around a pole, flanked by two acrobats. Variations of ragaputra Shoshara sometimes show a female acrobat as the central figure.

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