Chew betel leaf, then go view yourself in a silver mirror before joining your friends. --The Kama Sutra
This portrait marked by strong lines, shows a finely bejewelled lady enjoying betel leaves (Piper betle); (pan in Hindi). According to Susruta, the great Ayurvedic surgeon of the fourth century A.D, the betel leaf is "aromatic, stimulant, carminative, astringent, aphrodisiac, and antiseptic." Also used as a breath freshener, it is usually taken with areca nut and burnt lime paste.
The high point of this artwork are the strong, spherical flowing lines, imparting a rotundity to the garments of the lady, complimenting the magnificent curvaceousness of her feminine form.
The gaze of the viewer is immediately arrested by the face with its finely chiselled features, sharp nose and the alluring look in the eyes. Below the neck heavily decked with jewels, lies the heavy bosom, barely contained by the short diaphanous bodice. These enormous, perfectly circular globes have managed to escape from the reastraining garment in both directions, above and below. Thus giving us a generous view of her cleavage, and also spilling out of the bottom of the choli (ancient Indian version of the blouse). Right from ancient times, Indian artists have conceived of feminity as heavy-breasted, which is a symbol of fertility and the nurturing power of the goddess-mother.
This descripion by Nitin Kumar, Executive Editor, Exotic India.
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