Classical Instrument Art Print – Sitar, The Lotus Gourd Study

Provenance

'Sitar' is drawn as a single instrument opened for study: the lotus-carved gourd stands below, its lid with a bridge lifts away, and the long neck with its arched frets is drawn out above. Faint pencil studies of gourds at the edges and loosely sketched details give the page the feeling of a sketchbook still in progress, one of a series on Indian classical instruments.

A long, ringed neck reaches to the upper right, where four large carved tuning knobs sit at its head, with small pegs running along its side and a row of arched frets hovering above it. A pale wooden lid, carved with scrolling floral borders, hangs above a deep gourd. The gourd is carved with a large lotus and trailing leaves, and four wooden posts rise from its hollow interior. A bridge floats on its own at left, with strings running from it to small beads. Around the edges are faint outline studies of gourds, one with a carved leaf motif, and a close-up of the neck's banded joints.

Chestnut-red gourd and neck, honey-gold lid and pale cream carving stand against a warm paper tone. Soft grey graphite marks and light pencil outlines of gourds in the margins add an unfinished, exploratory quality that distinguishes this page from its companions. That surface belongs to the artwork as drawn; the piece you receive is a print on canvas cloth, made to order.