Attributed to Pandit Seu
Dancing Villagerscirca 1730

Not on view

Artist or Maker: Attributed to Pandit Seu
Title: Dancing Villagers
Place Made: India, Himachal Pradesh, Guler
Date Made: circa 1730
Medium: Opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions: Image: 9 3/4 x 14 1/4 in. (24.77 x 36.2 cm); Sheet: 10 3/4 x 15 1/4 in. (27.31 x 38.74 cm)
Credit Line: From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase
Accession Number: M.77.19.24
Classification: Drawings
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: A masterpiece in the Heeramaneck collection is this painting depicting seven men dancing with abandon to the tune of four musicians. It is remarkable for its unusual subject matter as well as its refined execution, lively portrayal of human form, and sensitive attention to portrait features. The painting is probably by Pandit Seu, an artist from Guler who is credited with introducing a more naturalistic approach to painting in the hill states. His highly individualized figures are accentuated by a monochromatic background typical of indigenous painting traditions throughout northern India. A traditional interest in rhythmic forms and lines is evident in the varied postures and flowing garments of his dancers.
Selected Bibliography: McGill, Forrest, editor. Beyond Bollywood: 2000 Years of Dance in the Arts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayan Region. San Francisco, CA: Asian Art Museum, 2022.

Not on view

Artist or Maker: Attributed to Pandit Seu
Title: Dancing Villagers
Place Made: India, Himachal Pradesh, Guler
Date Made: circa 1730
Medium: Opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions: Image: 9 3/4 x 14 1/4 in. (24.77 x 36.2 cm); Sheet: 10 3/4 x 15 1/4 in. (27.31 x 38.74 cm)
Credit Line: From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase
Accession Number: M.77.19.24
Classification: Drawings
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: A masterpiece in the Heeramaneck collection is this painting depicting seven men dancing with abandon to the tune of four musicians. It is remarkable for its unusual subject matter as well as its refined execution, lively portrayal of human form, and sensitive attention to portrait features. The painting is probably by Pandit Seu, an artist from Guler who is credited with introducing a more naturalistic approach to painting in the hill states. His highly individualized figures are accentuated by a monochromatic background typical of indigenous painting traditions throughout northern India. A traditional interest in rhythmic forms and lines is evident in the varied postures and flowing garments of his dancers.
Selected Bibliography: McGill, Forrest, editor. Beyond Bollywood: 2000 Years of Dance in the Arts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayan Region. San Francisco, CA: Asian Art Museum, 2022.