Drawing on paper, tinted and coloured with watercolours. The painting shows a woman seated next to a cradle in which there is an infant. The woman wears a mauve skirt, and embroidered shawl and a tasseled head dress. Mounted in a pair in a cardboard frame.
This painting is one of a series of watercolours which depict scenes that are well known in nineteenth century Persian painting and commercial photography. Judging by the fashions worn by the painting’s subjects they were probably painted between 1850 and 1875, quite possibly for sale to tourists. This example shows a well-to-do woman. She appears to be swooning whilst reclining on two large cushions. Perhaps the most noticeable element of the subject’s costume -to the modern eye at least- is her translucent blouse, which would have been for wear in private only. These blouses, which were worn with nothing on underneath, scandalised many nineteenth century European visitors (although one suspects that not all were so outraged).
