“Woman playing a long-necked lute” is an original watercolor by the artist V. Mahendra. Mahendra, intended to be reproduced for calendars sold in Indian bazaars in the early 20th century. Calendar art developed in India with the expansion of printers, who asked painters for vibrant, colorful originals to illustrate the calendars. The images produced could depict Hindu deities, religious figures, places of pilgrimage, historical figures... and later advertisements for a wide variety of products. The visual imagery of Calendar Art is still present in Indian pop culture and continues to influence advertising, film production and contemporary artists, such is the ability of this style to capture the spirit and identity of the people.

Most of the 50 originals presented by Retour De Voyage are signed by the artist and noted by the printer on the back. This one is a watercolor over a blue wash, on paper laminated to cardboard with edges. It depicts a woman dressed in traditional costume, decorated with garlands, playing music on a long-necked lute.