Kripal of Nurpur is considered an influential master artist of India in the 17 th century. He represents the beginning of the Basohli school of Pahari miniature paintings. Kripal’s art flourished during the peak of Bhakti culture. His depiction of love stories from classical literature such as the famous Rasamanjari series depicted Krishna as the central character. His amazing art combined a blend of human love stories and intense religious devotion. This represented the desire of our souls to reach God. He was an expert at creating paintings with the Sringara Rasa (essence of love). His paintings did not show realism and depth like Western artists. Instead he used flat images to create an emotional response. His paintings can be instantly recognised due to his large lotus shaped eyes which make up most of the human face to give a sense of intense emotion. His dramatic black and white backgrounds are also bright reds and yellows to represent the passionate feelings within his paintings. He also had a unique method of using real pieces of beetle wings to create shiny jewellery resembling emeralds. As he lived in a rich court in the hills his paintings created an expressive legacy. His art helped bring the emotional and spiritual side of the Himalayas to life creating masterpieces that will be remembered forever.
This Indian miniature painting is an example of the Pahari style, an art form that takes its themes from the love story of Radha and Krishna (a divine couple), the Ramayana (poems of Rama), royal court portraits (paintings commissioned by kings and other rulers) and the Barahmasa (artistic genre of the seasons). It was made circa 1690 CE. The composition of this piece is respectively Radha and Krishna. Radha is shown talking to a messenger beside what seems to be a well or a pond. Krishna meanwhile sits on a sumptuous throne. The art style of the Basohil school is characterized by the use of gold, saturated colors, and attention to detail in objects, facial expressions, and architecture.
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By: Andrea Carolina Santos Mejia
Basohli, a town in Jammu, developed a regional style of the Pahari school of Art. These artworks were characterised by the use of bold colours, generally yellow, green and red, themes of mythology and perhaps the most striking- lotus shaped eyes of the figures that often protruded from their faces. In this artwork, Krishna is depicted inside an elaborately decorated structure. The floral motifs are reminiscent of Mughal and Rajput architecture (inlay work). Radha is seen conversing with another figure, possibly an acquaintance or an attendant. To me, the red background stands out as a visually appealing feature. The deep red contrasts and complements the hues of blues, yellows and greens used for the figures and the architecture.
