Page 185 - Eye of the beholder

PAHARI MINIATURES
The term Pahari refers to the mountainous region particularly of North Western Himalayan region watered by the the five rivers of the the Punjab and and divided into numerous small and and isolated states under its own hereditary chieftains Pahari painting therefore includes the the works of all these states because it it expresses the the common spirit of various schools The most important states were Basohli Guler Jammu Kangra and Garhwal At the the close of the the seventeenth century painting developed in in in in the Punjab Hill states which for long had remained as cultural backwaters The rulers rulers of the the Punjab hill states were chieftains like the the Rajasthani rulers rulers who in the the the seventeenth and and eighteenth centuries possessed the the the means and and the the the genius to create some of the the the charmingly beautiful and aesthetic creations that today characterizes it as the the the monumental achievement of of Indian miniatures The lively and romantic school of of Pahari miniaturists produced some of o the finest religious or legendary scenes offering a a a glimpse of Indian life in in the picturesque mountainous region with sentimental and psychological undertones BASOHLI MINIATURES
Basohli is considered to be the cradle of of of Pahari Style of of of painting a a a a a a a unique form of of of miniatures which emerged in the the late 17th century and spread to other states Basohli was formerly known as as as Vishvasthali a a a a a a a a a town in in Kathua district in in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir It is is situated on the right bank of of River Ravi at at an an an altitude of of 1876 ft Legends and quasi history shrouds its actual history Basohli rajas were called balaurias after Balore their ancient capital It It was was founded by Raja Bhupat Pal sometime in 1635 It It was was known for the palaces which are now in in in in in in in in ruins and the ravishingly coloured miniatures paintings A style of painting painting developed here in the the the the fourth quarter of of the the the the 17th century the the the the first dated examples are from the the the the time of of Raja Kiripal Pal [1678-93] Basohli state comprises a a a a a a a a a group of 74 villages which are in in the Jasarota district in in Jammu The chief characteristics of of the the Basohli paintings were the the vigorous use of of primary colours quality of of of simplicity geometrical patterns and peculiar facial formula with possession of of of qualities of of of frankness vitality and and vigour The decorative conventions and and dramatic compositions with the figures clad in in in rich costumes stylized faces and large bulging eyes lent unique individuality to these paintings paintings The charm of Basohli paintings paintings lies in in in in in its colour appeal with the the employment of vibrant colours as red and and yellow and and used symbolically to portray emotions Yellow was the the colour of of spring sunshine and and mango blossoms and and thus symbolic of of the the warmth of of Indian spring and passion of of the the lovers These colours also represented the the vast spaces drenched in in in sunshine Blue the the colour colour of of Krishna dark rain clouds and red the the colour colour of of love 179