The Ideal Portrait Of The Mughal Empress Mughal Empress Nr Jahan Analysis

The Idealized Portrait of the Mughal Empress Nur Jahan (India, Rajasthan, c. 1725-1750) was made sometime between the years 1725 and1750 in Rajasthan, India. It is a water colour paint and gold on paper. This painting shows the Mughal empress Nur Jahan in a profile view, showcasing her unnaturally large, almond shaped eyes, looking away from the viewer. Nur Jahan is nude, but covered in gold, extravagant jewels and pearls, bracelets, rings, as well as an ornate turban with a green and red feather. In addition to this, she also wears a small jewel in the center of her forehead. Because of the use of water colour paints, the colours are not highly saturated, and the colour pallet is limited to mostly golds, reds, white, and greens. The empresses’ skin is left mostly unpainted, and was left as the same colour as the background. The exception to this is some minor shading on her chin, arms, and breasts which adds depth to the image. The painting has no background or sense of space, making the setting unknown and making the image very flat. She is depicted as holding an ornamental pitcher of wine in one hand, and holds a small cup of wine in …show more content…
She not only breaks the traditions of womanhood by acting as a ruler in place of her husband, but also breaks many conventions and rules for Muslim women. The first major rule that Nur Jahan breaks in her portrait is the fact that she is nude, except for her jewellery. Islam demands that Muslim women act and dress in a modest fashion, covering her entire body, except for her face and hands . The Quran states “…And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment…” . Nur Jahan completely breaks this rule, by not only appearing nude and showing her breasts, but immodestly displaying her jewellery and