Ardhamandali Dancer

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Rich periods of literature and culture are coeval with the great periods of Indian painting. There is interrelationship and interdependence of the two arts which provide material and scope for revealing insights into the other. The painted medium of expression makes dance a kinetic expression. It is the linear two-dimensional quality that gives painting its distinctiveness, which accounts for the painter capturing various movements of the human body in certain ways.

The dance here cannot be identified in Natyashastra terminology but the stance of the dancer is ardhamandali. The brightly attired figure stands out clearly against a dull background. The toes of one foot are turned sideways and those of the other foot are placed obliquely. She has clear cut face with tenderness of expression. The shapely eyes look downwards as she executes her vigorous dance steps. She is adorned with pearls and stones studded gold jewelry. She wears a short choli with a transparent long skirt attached to it. Beneath, she wears tight striped trousers. Her head is partially covered by a pink flowing odhini.

The precision of the pose, the movement of the lower limbs and the torso and the manner in which the arms are raised show that this painting has rhythm and spontaneity besides bright color and vigor. The turning in of the feet, the harmonious balance of the hands also reflect a deep perception of the art of dancing. It is not an impressionistic re-creation by a painter, but an exact portrayal of movement.

This description by Renu Rana.