A Smoking (Hot) Princess Muhammad Qasim circa 1635

In this 17th century Persian Miniature from the Isfahan style I was struck by the detail and intricacy of the woman's undergarments (her shalvar). It hearkens to the style of Riza-i Abassi but it lacks the gritty realism of Riza-i Abassi  and lacks his fascination with sashes and folds.

Persian Princess Smoking circa 1635 by Muhammad Qasim 1575-1659. of the Isfahan School,

This painting is attributed to Muhammad Qasim and since there is a signature I assume it is his. However it is so obviously in his style that the signature is not crucial. Take for instance the princess's breasts:

We can see the Princess's cleavage. Muhammad Qasim showed a greater fascination with female breasts than was common in Safavid painting up to that point. Take for instance Lot 119  Sale 7751 A Seated Ruler in a Landscape Signed Muhammad Qasim Isfahan Iran Circa 1640, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds London, King Street, 6 October 2009. We see a very similar woman with a bare breast. In fact it is entirely possible that it is the same woman in both pictures.

The Smoking Princess is from the Isfahan school under Riza-i Abassi but it lacks his refinement of style. Take the pipe for instance: 

Now contrast it with a pipe in Nashmi the Archer, Harvard Art Museum 1960.197 gift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (Nelson Rockefeller's mother), Signed by Riza 'Abbasi, Dated: 25 February 1622.

Aqa Riza has a much better command of the minor details but Muhammad Qasim seems to portray the woman in much the same way that artists portrayed the beardless boys of the Evil Years. That is to say as an object of desire.

We can see this in how Muhammad Qasim portrays the lower extremities:

Compare the feet of Nashmi the Archer certainly a harsher view of reality.

I also have to note the drawings on the bottle by Princess Muhammadwith the face on the pipe by Aqa Riza:

Aqa Riza is counted by most experts to be the greater artist. In fact may count him as one of the greatest of all Persian painters. But so despite the admiration I have for his technical excellence I prefer Muhammad Qasim. Count that as my vote for joy.

Why do I choose call the work The Smoking Princess when no one else does? the two feathers in her headdress are a traditional sign of royalty from Mongol times up and into the Safavid Dynasty. I think that not calling her a princess is an oversight.