Chapter-03

The Pahari School of Miniature Painting

Q. 1. Describe the origin and development of the Pahari School of miniature painting.
Words limit 200 - 250. On the basis of following topics.

1. Introduction 2. Origin 3. Development

The Pahari School of Miniature Painting

Introduction-The painting style developed in the hill states of Punjab and Jammu within and around the
five tributaries of the river Indus (Sindhu) is known as Pahari Miniature Painting.
Origin and development- With Aurangzeb;s prohibition of art in the first half of the 17th century and the
destruction of the mughal empire by the middle of the 18th century, artists from the mughal court as
well as from courts of Hindu nobles to seek refuge in the smaller hilly states of the Himalayas like Guler,
Chamba, Mandi, Kangra, Garhwal and Kullu became its Sub- centers. It is through them, the new Pahari
style of painting in fusion with the local folk art was born in the 18th century. The artists here though
were under the patronage of the kings, were not forced by them to draw on subject-matter chosen by
them. The freedom was enjoyed by the artists and the wonderful natural beauty around them
awakened their soul and inspired them to leave behind the lifeless, insipid Mughal style and gave new
expressions to their theme. They tempered the primitivism of Basohli and the softness of Guler with
finer drawing and mellower color. The art of Pahari school has the following sub-schools of miniature
painting.
1.Basohli Sub-School of Miniature Painting - The Basohli style resulted from the fusion of a deeply
religious art rooted in the folk tradition with basic elements of Mughal technique of realism and
boldness of lines. In 1916, A.K. Coomarswamy accepted Pahari paintings of two distinct styles, the first
is Kangra, the second he named as Dogra or Jammu. The second style is now accepted by all as the
Basohli style. During Raja Sangram Pal’s reign (1635-73), the ruling family adopted Vaishnavism and
through his influence, the Shaivism of the folk art gradually transformed into Vaishnavism. A major
series of ‘Rasamanjari’ is a secular work of love where the hero is identified as Krishna, Radha gradually
became the heroin replacing Parvati.The famous painting of this sub-school is Krishna with Gopis and
famous painter is Manaku.
Topics of the paintings-The painters started making paintings on abstract themes of the literary
volumes such as Ras-Manjari, Ramayana, Geet Govinda and Ragmala.
Characteristics- Figures with distinctive features such as fish shaped elongated eyes or large expressive
lotus shaped eyes, round chins, prominent noses, oval faces, receding foreheads, powerful body with a
pleasant plumpness present an idealistic body symmetry and lend distinction to female figure.
Clarity of designs and wonderful effect is created by the mixture of blue and yellow, red and blue, gray
and brown color which enhances the beauty of painting.
The shining bright fragment of beetle wings imitating emerald in jewellery and droplets of thick white
paint giving the effect of real pearls are Basohli trademark.
 The painting of this style are almost squre in shape. Double storied buildings have been shown in the
background. Hilly environment, river, waterfall, clouds, lotus and other flowers have been used as
ornamental elements in the painting.

2.Guler Sub-School of Miniature Painting -Guler is famous for both types of the paintings- individual
and subjective. The mysterious beauty of women has been shown. The famous painting of this sub-
school is Bharat worshiping charn Paduka of Rama.
Characteristics-Wonderfully used thick colours and emotional delineation, Fawns, cottony clouds, and
emotive natures in this style.
3.Kangra Sub-School of Miniature Painting –With the downfall of Guler most of the artists from Guler
migrated to Kangra being attracted by the greatness of Raja Sansar Chand. The style reached its highest
place in the region of King Sansar Chand (1775-1823) and his fame as a patron of art. After the death of
Raja Sansar Chand, the Kangra paintings also saw its downfall. In these paintings we can feel smell of
the soil of that place. The famous painting of this sub-school is Nand, Yashoda and Krishna with Kinsmen
going to Vrindavana and famous painter is Nainsukh.
Topics of the paintings-The painters of the style have paintedon the topic Radha-krishna, Rasik Priya,
Heer-Ranjha and Sohni-Mahiwal etc.
Characteristics- Amongst Rajput paintings, the paintings of Kangra hold a very high position because of
its maturity, fine sense of beauty, artistic and poetic sensibilities, color combination which is soft and
mellowed and the matured drawing. In this style balanced shape of trees, natural scenes, flowers,
shrubs, hills birds and animals- reveals the power of keen observation of the artists.
Only in Kangra, the artists synthesized different shades of primary colors and used delicate and fresher
hues.
The female representing an ideal of beauty is depicted with soft, refined and rhythmic curved lines with
a look of innocent sensuality.
4.Chamba Sub-School of Miniature Painting –The painters of this style have prominently showed
unusual figures of women, red and blue colours with the coordination of artistry and technique.The
famous painting of this sub-school is Cosmic Dance of Shiva.
5.Garhwal Sub-School of Miniature Painting –In the paintings painted here shows charmness of
colours, clarity in expression and tenderness of beauty. The famous painting of this sub-school is Radha
and Krishna looking into a Mirror.
6.Mandi Sub-School of Miniature Painting –The painting of various tantric forms of some goddesses, dark
black, red and blue colours are the speciality of Mandi miniature painting

Q.2.Write notes on the following sub- school of Pahari miniature Painting in 100 words
each.

(a) Basohli Sub-school of Miniature Painting.

(b) Kangra Sub-school of Miniature Painting.

(c) Chamba Sub-school of Miniature Painting.

(d) Guler Sub-school of Miniature Painting.

Q. 3. On the basis of your study, write the compositional arrangement of the following
miniature paintings of Pahari School.

(a) Krishna with Gopis.

(b) Nand,Yashoda and Krishna with Kinsmen going to Vrindavana.

Ans.3-(a) Name- Krishna with Gopis Painter- Manaku Sub-school- Basohli

Medium- Water colour on Hand made Paper Technique-Tempera
Compositional arrangement: The painting’s space divided into two parts foreground and
background. In foreground eight figures of Gopis painted with Lord Krishna in a group and in very lower
part river Yamuna can be seen. In the background have been shown multi-colored and multi-designed
leaves of the trees. The middle part of the background has been shown in light scarlet colour which
indicates the surface.

Q. 4. What are the main features of Pahari School of miniature paintings?

Ans.4 The Main Features of Pahari School of miniature paintings:

 The painters started making paintings on abstract themes of the literary volumes such as Ras-
Manjari, Ramayana, Geet Govinda and Ragmala. The painters of the style have painted on the topic
Radha-krishna, Rasik Priya, Heer-Ranjha and Sohni-Mahiwal etc.
 The painting of this style is almost square in shape. Double storied buildings have been shown in the
background. Hilly environment, river, waterfall, clouds, lotus and other flowers have been used as
ornamental elements in the painting.
 Wonderfully used thick colours and emotional delineation, Fawns, cottony clouds, and emotive
natures in this style.
 In this style balanced shape of trees, natural scenes, flowers, shrubs and hills has been painted
beautifully.
 The painters of this style have prominently showed unusual figures of women, red and blue colours
with the coordination of artistry and technique.
 The painting of various tantric forms of some goddesses, dark black, red and blue colours are the
specialty of Pahari school of miniature painting.

Q.5. Can you differentiate between Kangra Sub-school of Miniature Painting and Basohli
Sub-school of Miniature Painting?