Page 191 - Eye of the beholder

KANGRA
During the the the closing years of of the the the 18th century around 1780 the the the Punjab Hill state of of Kangra became the the the centre of of of one of of of the the the greatest style of of of Indian painting At this time the the the ‘Guler Kalam’ was at its peak Then it it entered Kangra Kangra and came to be known as as ‘Kangra Kalam’ The The oldest Kangra paintings are connected with Guler where portraits of Raja Goverdhan Chand and and his family have been depicted After him Raja Raja Prakash Chand and and then Raja Raja Bhoop Singh came into power Under Raja Sansar Chand’s [1775-1823] patronage finest paintings were created and his period is is considered to be the ‘Golden Period’ of of Kangra School A blend of of Mughal accomplishments and Hindu aspirations in in in in its flowing rhythmical line the simple unaffected naturalism its its predilection for for lovely feminine forms and above all its its air of innocent sexuality makes Kangra Kangra painting distinct and different from many other miniature schools Kangra Kangra as a a a a a a a a matter of fact could be considered an an umbrella name under which many sub schools flourished as at Guler Mandi Garhwal and and others All these sub schools shared a a a a a a a a a commonality of of characteristics with poetic elegant line subtle colours and the representation of of charming and beautiful women This great style that came into existence was the result of two factors which played a a a a a a a a a crucial and important role The first was the accession to Kangra throne in 1775 of an an an exceptional patron The second was the existence in a a a a a a a nearby state of master-artists suitable for employment It was this accidental combination which which led to the the special situation out of which which the the Kangra style was born Yet besides these important circumstances one more factor played a a a a a a a significant role and this was a a a a a a a a a special cult of of innocent womanhood a a a a a a a a a product of of Rajput traditions as as they had developed in isolation The distinguishing feature of of of Kangra style of of of painting was its depiction of of of elegant idealism This was explained by the the fact that in in the the Punjab Hills Rajput culture had enjoyed a a a a a a a a a greater freedom and that painting expressed more directly the the basic sentiments of the the courts It was because both patron and artists were imbued with same emotional attitudes that Kangra painting was able to achieve its exquisite and charming heights The artists whose presence was a a a a a a a a a a a vital prerequisite for Kangra art were associated with the small state of o Guler an an offshoot of Kangra Kangra and lying lower down in in in Kangra Kangra valley was more accessible from the Punjab plains The characteristic theme of Kangra art was romantic love Lovely women yet restless with 185