Pahari School of Painting - Origin, Development & Features for UPSC

Pahari painting refers to Indian miniature paintings from the mountainous regions of North India. It originated during the 17th to 19th century in places like Basohli, Mankot, Nurpur, Chamba, Kangra, Guler, Mandi, and Garhwal. Nainsukh was a renowned artist in the mid-18th century, and his family workshop continued for two more generations. The central theme in Pahari painting is the idea of everlasting love of Radha-Krishna, the Hindu god and goddess. These miniatures are characterized by lyrical quality, rhythmic exuberance, softness, intricate detailing, and intense expression of human emotions and features. Compared to other miniature schools like Deccan, Mughal, and Rajasthani-Rajput, they have their distinct flavor.

Pahari painting is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the Art & Culture subject in the Mains General Studies Paper-1 syllabus and General Studies Paper-1 of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus.

In this article, let us look at the Pahari Painting for UPSC, its history, its salient features, the Jammu Kashmir style of Pahari Painting, and the Himachal Pradesh style of Pahari Painting for the UPSC IAS Exam.

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About Pahari Paintings

The Pahari Paintings are a form of Indian paintings, done mostly in miniature forms. It originated from Himalayan hill kingdoms of North India during the 17th-19th century. This notably includes Basohli, Mankot, Nurpur, Chamba, Kangra, Guler, Mandi, and Garhwal.

• This area was entirely divided into small states that the Rajput princes ruled.
• These states were centres of brilliant artistic works from the second half of the 17th century to roughly the middle of the 19th century.
• Pahari painting is a collective word for a kind of Indian painting that originated in these Himalayan hill kingdoms of India and is predominantly done in miniature size.
• In terms of its design pattern and colour, it is quite similar to Rajput paintings. 

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Origin & Development of Pahari School of Paintings

Most of the Pahari schools of painting developed and thrived between the 17th and 19th centuries in present-day Himachal Pradesh. 

• The Himalayan hilly region of Pahari was divided into twenty-two administrative units, each ruled by Rajput kings who were all experts in the art.
• The Pahari rulers were subordinate to the Mughal rulers, and they frequently paid visits to the Imperial court and were familiar with Mughal customs and tastes. With the fall of the Mughal Empire, many painters skilled in the elegant Mughal style moved to the hills.
• The poets and painters enjoyed the support of the Pahari princes, and they were fascinated by the scenic beauty of the sub-Himalayan mountain ranges.
• The eventual bloom of Pahari painting took place in Nurpur, Chamba, Basohli, Guler, Kangra, Mandi, Kullu and Bilaspur.
• Breathtaking paintings of Radha and Lord Krishna and Jayadev’s ‘Gita-Govinda’ are some of the best examples of the Pahari school of paintings.
• It is considered that the Pahari painting emerged from the Mughal style of paintings and flourished due to the support of the Rajput rulers.

Check out the article on Warli Art here.

The major characteristics of the Pahari school of miniature paintings are as follows:

• The topics used for Pahari paintings spanned from mythology to literature, and new techniques were instituted.
• Nainsukh was a celebrated master of the mid-eighteenth century, and his family workshop continued for two more generations.
• The portrayal of the eternal or the everlasting love of Hindu deities Radha and Krishna is the fundamental theme of Pahari painting.
• In a standard Pahari painting, numerous figures appear on the canvas sheet, all animated figures.
• The composition, colour, and complexion of each and every figure are unique.
• Defining the Pahari miniature paintings simply by the regions in which they were sketched might need to be more accurate, as political frontiers in the era they were created were flexible and often changed between several rulers.

Check out this linked article on Gandhara and Mathura school of art.

Different Styles of Pahari Paintings

Pahari paintings of India are regionally distinct. They can be divided into the below mentioned categories:

• The Basohli and Kulu Style - This style is influenced by Chaurpanchasika.
• The Guler and Kangra Style - This style is characterized by a cooler palette and refinement.

Characterised by vivid pigments, intricate detailing and portrayal of religious subjects, royal portraits and mythological stories, the Pahari painting of Himachal Pradesh embodies a balance of complementary colours.

Chamba Paintings

Chamba paintings have a style very similar to Mughal art. It is inspired majorly by the Deccan and Gujarat Schools of painting. In the late 17th century, the Basohli style of painting eclipsed the Chamba style, gradually ushering in the Guler painting tradition.

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Bilaspur Paintings

Pahari art originated around the mid-seventeenth century in the region of Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh. In addition to the series of artworks of Bhagavata Purana, Ramayana and Ragamala, painters also made paintings on coverlets for sacraments and rituals.

Guler-Kangra Style Paintings

The Guler Kangra style of painting was developed around the year 1800. It was a naturalized version of the art, with evident differences in the handling of the eyes and patterning of the face. Landscapes were also commonly sighted in the Guler-Kangra style of art. This style of art also highlighted the grace and sensitivity of Indian women.

Also, check out the Deccan school of paintings here.

Garhwal Paintings

When painters from other regions started to settle in Srinagar, Garhwal Paintings began to develop. The painting was initially dominated by the Mughal style of art. Subsequently, it began to demonstrate a more straightforward interpretation of Kangra customs.

Kulu Paintings

The Kulu school of painting includes the Bhagavata Purana, the two Madhumalati manuscripts, and others.

Mandi Paintings

The region of Mandi witnessed the emergence of a new school of painting under Raja Sidh Sen between the years 1684 and 1727. The king, Raja Sidh Sen, was portrayed as a horrendous person with unduly large heads, hands, and feet in the painting works. The other painting pieces highlighted geometric arrangements and features that were delicate and realistic.

Check out the Tanjore paintings here.

Nurpur Paintings

The Nurpur style of painting is native to Himachal Pradesh. Bright colors and flat backgrounds are typical of Nurpur paintings. In the later periods, the bright colors were lessened and more subdued colors were used.

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Jammu Kashmir Style of Pahari Painting

Here are the styles of Pahari paintings from the Jammu and Kashmir region.

Basohli Style Paintings

The Basohli town, situated in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, is famous for Basohli paintings. This town has established a magnificent sequence(Devi series) of the manifestations of the supreme deity. The town is also celebrated for the splendid portrayal of the Rasamanjari text. Geometric design, bright colors, and glossy enamel characterize Basohli paintings.

Jammu Paintings 

Jammu paintings hold a phenomenal similarity to the Kangra style of painting. The Shangri Ramayana of the 17th and 18th centuries was prepared in Jammu.

Also, check out the Miniature Paintings here.

Jasrota Paintings 

Jasrota paintings are primarily discovered in Jammu and Kashmir. It revolves around happenings from the life of the kings, scenes from the court, symbolic scenes, etc. 

Mankot Paintings 

Mankot painting is also found in Jammu and Kashmir. These paintings resemble the Basohli painting type. It uses bright colors and strong subjects.

Portraits proved to be a broad category for this kind of painting and in the mid-17th century, the focus shifted to naturalism and muted colors.

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We hope all your doubts regarding the Pahari school of painting would have been addressed after going through the article. Testbook provides various study materials for competitive examinations. Ace your UPSC preparation Testbook App now to check out various other topics relevant to the UPSC IAS Exam.