This 24" x 30" oil painting shows a woman from India playing a Saraswati veena.

 

What is a veena?

A veena is an ancient string instrument of India. The veena is depicted in ancient texts, paintings, and sculptures that are hundreds of years old.

 

In the Hindu tradition, Saraswati is shown playing the veena, as the goddess of music, writing, the arts, and knowledge. The veena is a very popular stringed instrument in India and generally unknown in the West.

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A musical style from Southern India called Carnatic is what is typically played on the veena. I love this oeuvra! So much so, I plan a series of Saraswati veena paintings, this is the first.