Kakubha Ragini: Page from a Dispersed Ragamala Series (Garland of Musical Modes)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The conventions of this ragini vary, but the usual theme is a lady waiting for her lover. Here, she stands at the door, possibly looking out for him. This analysis is buttressed by the empty bed and the actions of her handmaidens, who attempt to cool and placate her. Hindu court poets invented extensive typologies of women and their lovers. These types appear in music, dance, devotional poetry, and secular literature as well as in painting.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art