First Night in Exile, Page from a Dispersed Ramayana Series

ca. 1775-1780

This painting illustrates the story of Prince Rama, who is wrongly exiled from his father’s kingdom, accompanied only by his wife and brother. On their first night outside of the palace the three royals have to sleep on the ground in outfits made of leaves. Rama’s brother (with white skin) talks with the leader of a forest-dwelling tribe, whose men bring provisions. The image was created in brighter shades, as was typical for Indian painting, and then the artist applied a thin wash of bluish-gray over the entire surface, like a veil or curtain, to create the effect of the gloom of night.