Gouache on paper-19th centuty

Her lover is still absent.
Longing turns to frustration,
and all is expressed
in the manner in which
She now holds Her body.

Her face is no longer lit with anticipation.
Her gaze has fallen away from the direction
from which Her lover would appear.
Her head, Her eyes are turned down,
directed at nothing in particular.

Subtly, the artist communicates Her sense of despondency and weariness, using all the vibhavas (stimulants of emotion), that he may use for rendering love in union. Only the anubhavas (consequents), are altered in the form of gesture and posture.

From these clues the viewer, aware in general of the situation of heroines in separation, experiences the picture with bhava (emotion). And the Heroine's sadness in separation emerges as the dominant emotion.

So as not to misinterpret the painting, a rasika's awareness and utsaha (enthusiasm), become directly relevant to these works of art.

B.N. Goswami
The Essence of Indian Art