The Courtesan

In South Asian courtly painting traditions of the seventeenth century and later, nude and partially nude women were often depicted in bathing scenes as they were dressed and pampered by their maidservants. It is possible that this etching was inspired by such paintings, as Chughtai drew freely from these earlier traditions. The nudes in Chughtai's etchings are more provocative than those in his paintings, however, suggesting that the artist found the smaller and more intimate format of the print more appropriate to such imagery. Public reaction to Chughtai's nudes varied. While some viewers were shocked, others regarded the images with a certain fascination. One knowledgeable critic characterized several of Chughtai's nudes as images of "whores" that reflected a baser side of the artist's mind. Another writer recorded a more favorable, reaction, citing Chughtai's "particularly graceful women in dishabille [partial undress]."