PAINTING & SCULPTURE
History of Indian Art Unit – I (B) Pahari School of Miniature Painting
Introduction
The Pahari region comprises the present State of Himachal Pradesh, some adjoining areas of the Punjab, the area of Jammu in the Jammu and Kashmir State and Garhwal in Uttar Pradesh. The whole of this area was divided into small States ruled by the Rajput princes and were often engaged in welfare. These States were centers of great artistic activity from the latter half of the 17th to nearly the middle of the 19th century. The miniature paintings of erstwhile states of Punjab hills are known as Pahari painting. The word Pahari means hilly in local dialect. These paintings began under Mughal influence during the reign of Aurangzeb. They also bear the impact of the paintings of Nepal, Kashmir, and Rajasthan etc.
The Pahari School of Miniature Paintings consists of the works of a large number of talented artists who contributed to develop this unique style of painting. It was the outcome of family tradition and the centuries of hard work.
Most of the paintings were destroyed in natural calamities, wars, fire etc. The leftover are not very enlightening, though a few contain the name of their creators. But the rest could be guessed by the art historians on the basis of style and nature of work.The Pahari paintings have different schools or styles, because they had several patrons like the rulers of Basohli, Guler, Kangra, Chamba, Tehri - Garhwal, Nurpur, Mankot,Mandi, Kullu, Bilaspur…etc…
Origin and Development of Pahari Schools
Himanchal, Punjab, Gharwal hill areas come under Pahari school.Guler is the place of origin of Pahari Miniatures, later on Kangra and other places of hill areas joined to develop the style which was completely different from other schools. Actually the style started from 1760 onwards at Guler.
The natural beauty and pleasant weather of this area added further charm to the Pahari art. By 1780 Guler school was at its peak. From this school some artists went to Kangra and started their work there. Their style changed day by day and afterwards it was known as Kangra style.
Basohli is situated in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Their style of art was sold by the name of Tibetan art. Gradually it has changed and the style was known as Basohli paintings. Some artists came to Chamba and started their work with new touch which, later on, was known as Chamba paintings.
Slowly paintings style spread to others parts of the hill areas and finally it has been proved its identity as Pahari School.
Mandi, Kullu and Garhwal areas also developed simultaneously and identified themselves under Pahari style of Paintings.
Gurkhas and their rule developed this Pahari School of art. Jammu & Kashmir also proved that their way of painting is having a new style which is different from others. In this way, Pahari paintings developed for which other school of art feels proud for them.
Characteristicsof Pahari school
1. Linear Beauty: One of the main features of Kangra painting is the linear beauty.Rhythm and smoothness have been added to the figures through fine lines, the finest lines that have been used in the drawing of eyes are praise worthy.
2. Depiction of Nature: Tree, clouds, water, jungles, etc. have been depicted all full of charm in Pahari School.The depiction of landscape consists of mountains, beautiful flowering trees, rivers and tanks with lotus flowers and aquatic birds. In the sky, rainy season, clouds lightening and rain etc. have been nicely painted.
3. Female Figures: The faces of women in profile have the nose almost in line with the forehead , the eyes are long and narrow and the chin is sharp.
4. Romantic Scenes: Lots of romantic scenes are found in Basohli painting and Kangra painting. The love scenes of hero and heroines are of very order, Krishna in the company of Gopis is in a grove of the bank of a river.
5. Garments: Choli, Lehanga and transparent Chunnis were generally worn by the woman . The male have been shown wearing Angrakha, Pajama and Turban. The Krishna has always been shown wearing Pitambar (yellow garments).
6. Perspective and colours: Mostly bright Primary colors, red, blue and yellow have been used. Some mixed colors like pink, green, and grey have also been beautifully used, the perspective has not been given much weightage but even then it does not look improper.
7. Use of Golden and Silver color: The color scheme is brilliant and golden color has been used lavishly. The sky has been painted as a narrow band of blue and white at the top. The colours are strong and contrasting. The use of gold and silver color is in the design of garments and ornaments. The lightening has also beautifully shown through silver color.
8. Use of Borders : In some Pahari paintings, we find ornamental borders of Mughal style. The red borders are worth noticing in these miniatures.
9. Paintings are Based on Folk Art: The paintings of Basohli (Pahari) are not classical but folk in nature. The Nature has been painted in ornamental style. Most symmetric ornamentation has been done which makes it look Folk.
Main Features of Pahari School
1. The natural beauty and pleasant weather of this area added further charm to these paintings.
2. Colours and lines have got different characteristics in Pahari School.
3. Vaishnav Cult, Bhakti movement took main place for subject matter.
4. In 17th century, Kangra art developed up to its climax. Haripur remained the centre of arts for long time.
5. We see little difference in colour scheme woman figures, love scenes, religious themes, Ragmala etc. Among Pahari paintings.
6. Generally, the artists of Pahari school have not written their names on the paintings. Effects of Mughal and Rajasthan Schools on Pahari style are visible up to mid 17th century. Later on it has been changed to its own style.
7. Mainly the hill areas of Punjab, Himanchal and Jammu & Kashmir known as Pahari School. Guler was the main place of origin of Pahari paintings. Still we find the style of Pahari paintings have some similarities among themselves.
Styles and their colour scheme of paintings as well as human figures are somewhat interrelated to each other.
8. Nayika Bheda- These paintings depict the love sentiment and their movement towards love affairs.
9. Romantic scene, Depiction of nature, Ragmala painting, female figures, portraits and garments are quite different from other styles. Transparent dresses with complete Indian tradition style were the main attraction of those paintings.
10. Perspective and colour scheme have unique style in these Pahari paintings, linear beauty, use of boarder designs, almost all same in these Pahari school of paintings.
11. Symbolicdepiction with ornamentation in the trees, nature is remained natural. Above style of paintings and characters make this school different from others.
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