Pahari painting

Nala-Damayanti theme, from the Mahabharat in Pahari style

Pahari painting (literally meaning a painting from the mountainous regions: pahar means a mountain in Hindi) is an umbrella term used for a form of Indian painting, done mostly in miniature forms, originating from Himalayan hill kingdoms of North India, during 17th-19th century, notably Basohli, Mankot, Nurpur, Chamba, Kangra, Guler, Mandi, and Garhwal.[1][2] Nainsukh was a famous master of the mid-18th century, followed by his family workshop for another two generations.

Origin and area

Radha celebrating Holi, ca 1788.
Sudama bows at the glimpse of Krishna's golden palace in Dwarka. ca 1775-1790 painting.

The Pahari school developed and flourished during 17th-19th centuries stretching from Jammu to Almora and Garhwal, in the sub-Himalayan India, through Himachal Pradesh. Each created stark variations within the genre, ranging from bold intense Basohli Painting, originating from Basohli in Jammu and Kashmir, to the delicate and lyrical Kangra paintings, which became synonymous to the style before other schools of paintings developed. The Kangra style reached its pinnacle with paintings of Radha and Krishna, inspired by Jayadev's Gita Govinda.[3]

Pahari painting grew out of the Mughal painting, though this was patronized mostly by the Rajput kings who ruled many parts of the region, and gave birth to a new idiom in Indian painting.[4]

Schools of Pahari painting

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Hindu Hill Kingdoms V&A Museum.
  2. ↑ Pahari Kamat.
  3. ↑ Pahari centres Arts of India: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Music, Dance and Handicraft, by Krishna Chaitanya. Published by Abhinav Publications, 1987. ISBN 81-7017-209-8. Page 62.
  4. ↑ Pahari
  5. ↑ Pahari Paintings
  6. ↑ Pahari paintings

Further reading

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