Battle of Tulamba, left half

This folio page from the Akbarnama, made by the skilled Mughal artist Khem Karan shows the Battle of Tulamba. It was a fierce fight fought by the Mughals that helped them control the north-western India. This painting shows what happened when the Mughal army met the princes Ibrahim Husayn Mirza and his brother Masud. Khem Karan made the painting is like a theatre with lots of action. The battlefield is small, rocky hills around it, which makes it feel like one is present in the middle of a confusing and a noisy battle. Armoured horses and elephants are charging at each other from directions. Their beautiful covers make a pattern that helps one see what is happening. The artist does not focus on one thing, he rather spreads the action over the canvas. The contrast between the top part and the violent fight below is very striking. In the part hunters are chasing deer. This contrast makes a comment on how fragile peace can be and how hard it is to keep power. The careful drawing of armour, shields, bows and flags shows that the Mughal artists wanted to be accurate. The severed heads and fallen soldiers show how brutal war can be. The painting is not about celebrating a win in battle, it is a record of history. It shows what Akbar thought was important for history; military wins, political power and beautiful art together. The dynamic picture and the amazing details show that the Mughal court wanted to keep history alive not as something you read but as something you can see and feel. The Akbarnama and Khem Karan are important for this. The Mughal army and their battles are also key, to understanding this.