Painting Styles of Himachal Pradesh | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

Pahari School of Paintings: A Rich Tradition of Himalayan Art

• The Pahari style of painting emerged in the Sub-Himalayan regions under the influence of Mughal rule. This distinct art form flourished in the princely states of the region, especially in the courts of around 22 smaller kingdoms from Jammu to Almora.
  Broadly, Pahari paintings can be divided into two primary schools:
  • Jammu or Dogra School: Northern Series
  • Kangra School: Southern Series
• These paintings covered various themes, including mythology and literature, and introduced new techniques in composition and coloring. Typical Pahari paintings are known for their dynamic figures, each uniquely rendered with a blend of vibrant colors and individual expressions. Two of the most notable artists from this tradition are Nainsukh and Manaku.

Kangra School of Paintings

• With the decline of the Mughal Empire, many artists trained in the Mughal style sought refuge in the Kangra region, finding patronage under Raja Goverdhan Singh in 1774. This gave birth to the Guler Kangra School of Paintings, which initially developed in Guler and later flourished in Kangra.
• The Kangra School reached its peak under Raja Sansar Chand at Sujanpur Tira. His support gave rise to a unique style that was both sensual and intelligent, differentiating it from other schools of the time. Common themes in Kangra paintings include Gita Govinda, Bhagwata Purana, Baramasa, Satsai of Biharilal, Rasikpriya of Keshvadas, and the love story of Nal Damyanti.
• A famous collection from the Kangra School is the "Twelve Months" series, where artists captured the emotional impact of each month on human feelings. This emotive style was particularly popular in the 19th century. The Kangra School later influenced other ateliers that developed in Kullu, Chamba, and Mandi.

Basholi School of Paintings

• The Basholi School, which thrived in the 17th century, represents the early phase of Pahari painting. Known for expressive figures with receding hairlines and large, lotus-petal-shaped eyes, these paintings make extensive use of primary colors such as red, yellow, and green to symbolize love, happiness, and nature, respectively. The Basholi artists employed Mughal painting techniques on clothing but developed their distinct stylistic characteristics over time.
• The Basholi School is considered the earliest known hill school of painting in the region. It flourished under the patronage of Raja Kirpal Singh, who commissioned illustrations of Bhanudatta’s Rasmajari, Gita Govinda, and Ramayana. The most famous artist of this school was Devi Das, recognized for his depictions of Radha Krishna and portraits of kings in their regal attire. The vibrant contrast of colors is a defining feature of this school, which stylistically borrowed elements from Malwa paintings.

Other Schools of Pahari Painting

Arki School of Paintings

• Arki, located in the Baghal state in the Shimla Hills (modern-day Solan district), was home to the Arki School of Paintings.
• Initially influenced by the Basholi School, this style later adopted the Kangra style.
• The key themes of the Arki School include Shiva-Parvati, the Krishna legend, and the Nayak-Nayika theme from Rasikpriya of Keshvadas.
• Rana Mehar Chand (1723-43) and Rana Bhup Chand (1743-78) played crucial roles in the flourishing of the Basholi Kalam in Arki, while the Kangra Kalam was promoted under Raja Jagat Singh and Saran Singh.
• Raja Kishan Singh of Baghal further supported the spread of Kangra Kalam in the region.

Chamba School of Paintings

• The Chamba School initially drew inspiration from the Basholi Kalam, later incorporating elements of the Kangra Kalam.
• Central themes in Chamba paintings revolve around Vishnu, particularly in his incarnations as Rama and Krishna.
• Raja Udai Singh was the first to provide royal patronage to Chamba paintings.
• In the 18th century, Nikka emerged as a master artist in Chamba, contributing significantly to the development of this artistic tradition.