“Lala Rukh” is an evocative lithograph that reflects Raja Ravi Varma’s fascination not just with Indian epics, but with literature from beyond the subcontinent as well. This artwork is inspired by Thomas Moore’s 19th-century narrative poem, Lalla Rookh, which tells the story of a Mughal princess on a royal journey to meet her betrothed. Along the way, she falls in love with a poet who turns out to be the very prince she is meant to marry.
In this print, Ravi Varma portrays Princess Lala Rukh in a moment of serene introspection, possibly listening to a court musician. She is flanked by her attendants, one of whom appears to be a learned elder, adding gravitas to the setting. Her posture — graceful, pensive, and quietly engaged — communicates an emotional depth that is characteristic of Varma’s women: cultured, emotionally aware, and subtly commanding.
The background, possibly representing the mountainous regions of Kashmir or Persia as imagined in Moore’s poem, adds to the dreamlike romanticism of the composition. The detailing in the textiles, jewelry, and instruments showcase Ravi Varma’s European academic training blended with Indian sensibilities.
Significance:
“Lala Rukh” stands out as a confluence of East and West — an Indian artist interpreting an English poem rooted in Indo-Persian imagination. It highlights Raja Ravi Varma’s vast intellectual appetite and his ability to universalize emotions like love, longing, and destiny. This print post card is a rare and refined example of how Ravi Varma used narrative to elevate the art of storytelling through visual media.
