Abhisarika Nayika (Heroine Braving the Night)

India (Pahari Hills, Kangra or Guler)

Not on view

There are eight nayika (heroine) love stories, the most popular and frequently illustrated being the abhisarika nayika. While a storm gathers above, a woman ventures undaunted through a forest populated by snakes and demons in order to rendezvous with her lover. The storm and the hazardous landscape hint at the trials and passion of her impending encounter. This drawing typifies the refinement of the early-nineteenth-century Kangra and Guler styles.

Abhisarika Nayika (Heroine Braving the Night), Ink, wash ,and translucent watercolor on paper, India (Pahari Hills, Kangra or Guler)

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Abhisarika Nayika (Heroine Braving the Night), Ink, wash ,and translucent watercolor on paper, India (Pahari Hills, Kangra or Guler)
Abhisarika Nayika (Heroine Braving the Night), Ink, wash ,and translucent watercolor on paper, India (Pahari Hills, Kangra or Guler)

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.