Figural Groups in a Forest Outside Palace Walls (pricked drawing)

This drawing features a large, dense, lush forest beyond the walls of a palatial structure on the top left. Within the forest are several groups of figures. At the bottom left is a young prince, his royal status indicated by his rich attire and ornamented turban, embracing and kissing a young lady. At the bottom is a group of women peering from behind trees and other foliage. At the right is a group of noblemen dancing, their status indicated by their dress. A woman watches them from between large palm fronds. There are traces of small pricked holes throughout the work that indicate that it was used in a transfer technique called pounce, in which powdered chalk or charcoal would be forced through the tiny holes onto a new, clean surface to transfer the image and allow for it to be copied. Rajput Style, Kota School.