'Disappointed'

What emotion a letter with sad news delivers...

By Salar Jung Museum

A painting by Raja Ravi Varma

Disappointed (1848/1906) by Raja Ravi VarmaSalar Jung Museum

One among the pearls and folds of silk...

...the envelope with the torn seal.

'Disappointed'

- a woman in love. 

An aftermath of the received message...

...pages of the letter in hand.

Splendour amidst grief...

The stunning border design - richness with the timeless paisley scroll!

and wearing pearl beads, a gold pendant...

The gold zari of the silk sari... 

and two finger rings... one studded... perhaps a gift!

'Shringara'... colourful bangles... in gold and green.

An anticipation gone awry...

a tear... of a hapless one.

Under the veil, she lay, expecting...
now disappointed by words.

A painting by Raja Ravi Varma, India's prolific 19th century fusion painter from Travancore, a celebrated artist combining European techniques and Indian styles. His paintings and prints found place in people's lives. He lives on through his lithographs and exemplary artworks.

Credits: Story

Text and curation - Soma Ghosh 
Photography - M. Krishnamurthy 
Special Thanks - Dr. A Nagender Reddy 

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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