In this technique, a thin layer of colour pigment (hirmich red earth) is laid over the white (safeda white lead) plaster surface. A floral or conventional design is then drawn on the colour surface, according to which the colour surface is scrapped off, thus exposing the white plaster underneath, now seen only through the scrapped off design. It is thus 'incised painting'. The most developed stage of this technique is found at the Taj Mahal, in the mosque and its jawab (the rest house), distributed in highly stylised patterns along their whole interiors, from dados to the ceilings. Here again, two colours have been used, a hirmichi red on a white background which is allowed to show magnificently through the scrapped off leaves, flowers and the outlines. The tiny curves of white thus blossom exuberantly on a red ground - portions of the background have thus artistically been brought to the foreground and the foreground recedes into background!