Current location unknown; formerly in private collections and auction circulation.
Location History:
This manuscript of the Razmnama was dispersed before 1960
Sam Fogg, London 1999
Francesca Galloway, London 2008
Sotheby’s, London, 7 October 2009, lot 44
A dramatic episode from the Mahabharata in nim-qalam style, Bhima kills Kichaka and is in battle with his hundred and one brothers, as a punishment for Kichaka's predatory behaviour towards Draupadi. This Mughal miniature painting created for the Razmnama captures a moment of vengeance, strength, righteousness and conflict. This narrative is transformed into a visually striking scene filled with ferocity. The Razmnama is the abridged version of the Hindu epic poem the Mahabharata which tells the story of a rivalry between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, for the kingdom of Hastinpura. This painting, in addition to nine of the other paintings from the manuscript, is by Dhannu, a prolific painter in Akbar's court. A defining feature of his painting style is that his style for depicting faces borders on caricature. This painting comprises of finely drawn faces, especially Bhima's, who's expression approaches nonchalance, in contrast to his wild hair, which often signifies ferocity and anger, so visually striking it reminds you of Kali's wild and free hair. Kichaka's corpse burns on a pyre in the foreground. Power and justice are central themes to this painting. Bhima's way of justice through force, violence that is righteous, punishment for the corrupt and abusive behaviour of Kichaka. The composition draws your eye to Bhima's heroism, he is the upholder of moral code, the heroic power against lecherous predators. The scene is brutal, but the painting itself is elegant and decorative. The painting blends an Indian epic with the refined aesthetics of Mughal court paintings, including the naturalistic figures where the gestures are wide and limbs bent, courtly aesthetics and fine line-work. Ultimately a brutal narrative, featuring intense graphic violence has been transformed into a visually sophisticated courtly artwork.
The painting is from Razmnama, a 16th-century Persian translation of Mahabharata, and it is done in nim-qalam style. It shows the episode of Bhima killing Kichaka and his hundred and one brothers as a punishment for Kichaka’s immoral behaviour towards Draupadi. It is painted by the artist Dhannu, an important painter in the Mughal atelier during Akbar’s rule. There’s one inscription at the lower portion, which gives information regarding the title of the episode in nasta’liq script. There’s another text at the back, which has a description of the episode, as given in the Mahabharata book. Artist Dhannu is known for his fine rendition of the human faces in his work, and therefore we can see varied expressions and the use of fine lines for the hair of Bhima and others, including moustaches too. The dead body of Kichaka is shown burning in the pyre. The overall composition of the painting is vertically divided into three sets from top to bottom - First, Fort as architectural setup, the middle ground is where the main action is placed, it is filled with figures in running and frightened postures, and the third set is the river, shown with blossomed - lotus.
