This illustration is from a series knows as the 'Second Guler' Ramayana attributed to the first generation of artists after Manaku and Nainsukh. The first section of the series, dating to circa 1780, is known as the 'Bharany' Ramayana, comprising illustrations from the first three books of the Ramayana. The second section of the series is distinguishable by its floral borders. Goswamy and Fischer date this second section to circa 1790 and have listed known paintings from this section of the series (M.C. Beach, E. Fischer, B.N. Goswamy (ed.), Masters of Indian Painting 1650-1900, Zurich, 2011, p.690).
The present scene depicts the demoness Shurpanakha recalling her encounter with Lakshmana to her brother Khara. Shurpanakha met the exiled princes Rama and Lakshmana in the enchanted forest of Panchavati, adopting a attractive form to seduce them. Both brothers rejected her advances, so Shurpanakha took back to her demonic form and attacked Sita. Her efforts were thwarted by Lakshmana, who slashes off her nose. Enraged, she returns to her brother Khara who dispatches an army rakshasa warriors to attack Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, who disgraced Khara’s army. Shurpanakha then retreated to her elder brother Ravana’s court, who is inspired by her tales to kidnap Sita, setting off the battle of Lanka.
Other pages from the 'Second Guler' series are in the Philadelphia Museum of Art (acc. no. 1982-34-1), the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (acc. no. 1992.95), Walters Art Museum (acc. nos. W.877, W.902, W.909), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. no. 1987.424.13), and the San Diego Museum of Art (acc. no. 1990.1282). Paintings from this series have also sold at Bonhams New York, 11 September 2012, lot 89, Sotheby's New York, 21 March 2012, lot 210, Christie’s London, 12 June 2018, lot 26, at Christie's New York 23 March 2022, lot 467, and most recently at Christie’s New York, 22 March 2023, lot 380 for $100,800.