Historical accounts mention that Emperor Akbar's imperial atelier housed a group of painters sharing the moniker ‘Kashmiri,’ which included Kamal, Muhammad, Isma’il, and Ya’qub. The most notable name among the Haidar Kashmiri, who worked on major manuscripts. He also collaborated with the portraitist, Nanha, on the Timurnama and worked both as designer and as a painter.
This particular folio from Shah-nama depicts an intense, dramatic moment from the story of Isfandiyar as he was trying to get revenge on King Arjasp of Turan for defeating his dad and capturing his sisters. He sneaks into the fort by disguising himself as a merchant and ends up defeating the king right there.They are shown in three-fourth views wearing these round, dome-like khulakhud helmets.The scene is gruesome and gore but set in environment with delicate and intricate details of a peaceful garden. This contrast makes the composition more fascinating. There’s also a bystander witnessing this with absolute astonishment.
Haidar’s work is also distinguished by his use of bright, bold pinks, purples, and greens. Since he was a regional artist, he brought in his own local Kashmiri style to the artworks that were primarily being produced in the context of Mughals.
This painting depicts the contrasting nature of human world both beautiful and brutal at the exact same time.Isfandiyar is painted in striking blue armour running his sword through Arjasp, and right next to that, almost casually, there's a severed head and a headless body lying under trees that look almost too pretty for the moment, all these delicate layered leaves rendered in gold and ink. The artist was trying to depict the violence in a way that does not look gruesome— everything's still gorgeous, still controlled, even the blood is rendered in these fine little flecks like it's part of the decoration. The painting is not about celebrating a killing but about capturing that uncomfortable truth where doing the "right" thing, avenging your family, rescuing your sisters, ultimately leads to violence.It is not a clean and triumphant hero moment. It is messier and heavier on one's conscience.
