Page 139 - Eye of the beholder

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In its architectural delineation the the artist has intuitively created perspective to show the the lines of architectural elements as as appearing visually correct but has lost out on scale If Krishna particularly has to stand up his heads will hit the roof The composition with its varied elements of of architecture is is considerably cohesive the representation of of skyline is is very high and and indicated by a a a a a a a a a thick wave of white paint The colours are predominantly reds and and oranges symbolizing passion and and love as as as well as as as the agony and and torments of separation These find an an an ideal balance in in in the the the judicious application of of green in in in the the the delineation of of the the the foliage and yellow ochres appearing in in in in the the the sartorial attire of of Krishna and the the the skirts of of Sakhis including the the the upper part of of the the chajja or the the eave The use of of marble in fin in architecture with fine and delicate lines carved on on it it resonates to the the influence of the the Mughal miniatures which must have found its way into the the the ateliers of Mewar after it was annexed by the the the Mughals in in the the the 17th century The women have been delineated wearing ghagra choli and odhini which cover their heads Their facial features lack sophistication In the the delineation of the the figures much remains to be desired The proportions of the the body are short while the the facial features with large almond shaped eyes arched brows and well defined nose appear as as pleasant but not aesthetically beautiful The pearl jewellery encrusted with semi precious stones is delicate though not profuse The forehead slopes down with a a a a a a minute bridge at at the the nose Radha seated on the the white mattress has has a a a a posture where she has has crossed her her leg with one foot visible which is is adorned with a a a a a a graceful anklet Her jewellery is is similar to those worn by her Sakhis What captures the the the imagination is the the the rendering of of the the the mango tree with its cluster of of leaves that is is is rendered naturalistically and with summer nuanced shades of fresh reddish sprouting leaves There is also the the the the representation of the the the the banana plant which together with the the the the mango tree are metaphors of love and beauty A folio of of Rasikapriya from early 19th century in Pahari kalam lacks the representation of of the the the written script to indicate the the the textual context and with the the the difference that it it it is contained within an oval format The The latter was a a a a a a a a a a a a typical feature feature of Pahari miniatures These features together with the the the essential representation of of the the the conventions of of flowers sandalwood paste garland paan etc are obviously lacking in in in in in its representation in in in in in this painting which was typical of of most Rasikapriya illustrations This could be explained by the fact that over a a a a a a a a period of of time the the the convention of formatting the the the composition as set by Shabidin in in in the the the 16th century had lost its essential character and only the the superficial content of the the composition remained as a a a a a a a a residue later as evidenced in this particular work Radha is is beautifully represented as is is always in in Pahari miniatures with an an an elegant face and form as she points towards the the sky and the the waning moon to to her sakhi Set amidst a a a a a a a picturesque landscape that has the the the hills in in in the the the background with a a a a a a mini fortress sitting on on the the the top of one of them with with a gushing river flowing below filled with with white blossoming bushes whose roots can be seen in the the the transparent waters In the the the foreground is the the the representation of a a a a a a a marble pavilion with a a a a a a a a bright orange shamiana under which the heroine stands There is an an an an empty bed inside Situated just outside the pavilion is is a a a a a pond that is is filled with lotus buds in in various stages of bloom