Page 217 - Eye of the beholder

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He has has shot his arrow arrow at the enemy who who is is shown behind a a a a a a a tree who who he he has has pulled out an arrow arrow which is is is stained with blood blood from his his chest and his his garment equally showing profuse blood blood on it it His eyes are lowered and and his face is is is rendered considerably darker with a a a a a a a a a moustache and and a a a a a a a a a beard and pointed yellow cap on his head He wears a a a a a a a a bright orange gown that reaches to his calf and clad in in high boots The setting is is ambiguous as as there is a a a a a a a a a massive arch seen in in the the background a a a a a a a a a huge rocky outcrop against which Rustom is delineated and smaller rocks with wild grass growing all all around it it seemingly appear behind behind the the arch and hence behind behind the the mighty rock on which a a a a a a tree is delineated growing out The branches are strongly emphasized while the foliage is delicately rendered The most arresting image is is that of the protagonist Rustom who with dare devil bravery and absolute self confidence has wounded his enemy by the arrow The face reflects unmistaken determination and his posture riding the horse is is that of a a a a a a a seasoned warrior well cultivated in in in fighting while riding The face represented in in in near full view has the character of a a a a a a a handsome royalty with large almond shaped eyes neat arched brows an an aquiline nose and determined lips sporting a a a a a a a a a a a moustache and full beard He wears a a a a a a a a a a a head gear or or or a a a a a a a a a a a helmet that has the form of of a a a a a a a a a a a tiger as the the the ears eyes and nose manifest that of of a a a a a a a a a a a fierce animal with a a a a a a a a a a a feather in the the the centre He wears a a a a a a a a knee length tunic that that is is designed with a a a a a a a a central band that that goes around his waist painted in in light yellow ochre brown This has been given a a a a a a a different design and appears to be embroidered in in a a a a herringbone pattern At his waist is is is the quiver filled with arrows The lower garment constitutes of striped pants and his foot wear is is is the high boots The horse is is is very simply caparisoned without much paraphernalia with with just the saddle and a a a a a a a a a a bright orange saddle cloth The drawing of of the the the horse is is well rendered establishing the the the fact of of the the the Indian artist having having painted this particular folio diligently having having the the the knowledge of of the the the full rasp of of the the the animal’s body which made the rendering perfect The horse has is rendered in in subtle shade of purple and and outlined in in in in in firm black black delineating with clarity its trappings and and his black black mane
While the arrow that has has been released has has wounded his enemy Rustom himself gets injured in in in the the the process as as the the the rock is lined by spears spears and one of the the the spears spears has pointedly wounded him shown by the blood drops that are falling from under his raised arm The artist has has successfully shown action in the the form of an encounter that has has taken place with the the protagonist and his enemy being wounded wounded The horse prancing forth is is is also wounded wounded in in in its neck and there is is blood which is is splattered all around from one of the the spears going through its neck as well as the underside of his belly with four spears piercing it it and blood gushing out Apparently Rustom accidently come upon his enemy who laid a a a a a a crafty trap of spears to to consciously injure him and and hence successful at it it by wounding both the the animal and and the the hero riding it it Compositionally it it it has a a a a a a a simple lay out with two figures and minimal representation of the landscape The dominant focus is on the the character of Rustom which attracts the the eye placed in in the the near foreground and and and his raised left hand provides a a a a a a a a visual path to the the second figure standing behind a a a a a a a a tree The form and appearance of Rustom has been strikingly based on Persian model to to give it it it authenticity of character and ethnicity as the the Indian artist working for a a a a a a a a a non Hindu patron had to to fulfill the latter’s aspiration of pictorial rendering that reflected Persian qualities The quality of line undeniably establishes the Indian artist masterly control and his facility in in in imparting a a a a a a a a a descriptive as as well well as as a a a a a a a a decorative character which is is is well well established in in in this painting The colours are subdued yet have the strength of intensity The background is rendered in in in green representing an open space where the encounter has take place