Bhils Hunting by Night

Bhil Hunting by Night is a late Mughal painting made in the court of Awadh (present-day Lucknow) by Faizullah, c. 1760. Through the use of opaque pigments, the unheard and unseen Bhil women continue to hunt deer by moonlight as they work alongside an assortment of other animals. In the darkness, one woman lights her oil lamp with a fire that illuminates the animals while another readies her bow to shoot a blackbuck. The startled deer run over the rocks. There is a river, buildings, and a moon-lit sky nearby. It is a cool night. An inscription in Persian indicates that the scene is of Bhil huntresses moving through the Deccan and hunting by night. Faizullah also signed the painting discreetly, an unusual occurrence in Indian miniature painting. The painting shows the peculiar Awadhi style that evolved from the 18th century onwards, with the decline of the Mughals. As artists departed from the imperial court of Delhi, many found patrons at the prosperous court of Awadh. Awadhi painting took over from the Mughal tradition and retained its style of drawing, brushwork and naturalistic figures. It introduced greater lyrical elegance, atmospheric landscapes and richer moods. The Bhil Hunting at Night depicts these features with a moonlit sky as a backdrop and a delicate harmony of light. The painting is inspired by the Bhil community, one of the largest indigenous communities of India. They were known for their skill in hunting and knowledge of the forest. In place of regal representations, Faizullah focuses on the synergistic act of tribal hunters, highlighting the increasing artistic fascination with everyday life and local cultures. The work thus occupies the confluence of Mughal artistic traditions, Awadh court patronage and the cultural diversity of 18th century India.