ticketsMember | Make a donation

Escapade at Night:

Attributed to Chokha Indian
ca. 1800–10
Not on view
A nobleman ascends a rope to visit his lover, who reclines within the palace’s defended walls. The clandestine tryst is a theme that runs through the poetry of this period, and certainly the tension of this forbidden act would have appealed to royal tastes. Presenting this scene in the somber tones of night is an innovation of the artist Chokha, who followed his father, Bagta, as the major Mewar painter during this period. Chokha gives the painting a sense of drama by juxtaposing the quietude of the sleeping cows and guards with the brightly colored protagonists and a roiling band of black thunderclouds.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Escapade at Night:
  • Artist: Attributed to Chokha (Indian, active 1799–ca. 1826)
  • Date: ca. 1800–10
  • Culture: India (Rajasthan, Mewar)
  • Medium: Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 11 1/2 x 14 7/8 in. (29.2 x 37.8 cm)
    Page: 12 3/16 x 15 15/16 in. (31 x 40.5 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2006
  • Object Number: 2006.451
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Radha Crosses a River to Interview a Hindu Sage, Chokha Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper, India (Rajasthan, Mewar)
Radha Crosses a River to Interview a Hindu Sage
Chokha
ca. 1820
Maharana Bhim Singh and Retinue Embark on a Hunt, Chokha Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, Western India, Rajasthan, Udaipur or Devgarh
Maharana Bhim Singh and Retinue Embark on a Hunt
Chokha
ca. 1805–10
Rawat Gokul Das Hunting Boar, Chokha Indian, Opaque watercolor on paper, India (Devgarh, Mewar, Rajasthan)
Returned to lender
Rawat Gokul Das Hunting Boar
Chokha
dated 1811
Maharana Bhim Singh and His Sons in the Surya Mahal, Chokha Indian, Opaque watercolor on paper, India (Udaipur, Mewar, Rajasthan)
Returned to lender
Maharana Bhim Singh and His Sons in the Surya Mahal
Chokha
ca. 1810
Maharana Bhim Singh Reviewing the Kill after a Boar Hunt, Chokha Indian, Opaque watercolor on paper, India (Devgarh, Mewar, Rajasthan)
Returned to lender
Maharana Bhim Singh Reviewing the Kill after a Boar Hunt
Chokha
ca. 1803

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.