This painting by Balachand, titled "Jahangir and his Father, Akbar" was a part of Shah Jahan's Album, "Gulshan Album", a collection of miniatures and calligraphy assembled for the Mughal Emperor. It depicts Emperor Jahangir standing with his father Emperor Akbar. The painting is characteristically a Mughal Miniature, given the style, subject, thick border, dominance of flowers and leafs as motifs.
In this portrait, Akbar (right) stands before his son Jahangir (left) with both being in heavenly light. The halo behind their heads symbolised the idea of divine kingship and the sacred status (farr-i izadi) of the emperor. Even the placement of the falcon adds another layer to this image of imperial legitimacy given it seen across cultures as a potent symbol of nobility, kingship, skill in battle, and simply good fortune.
It is intriguing to note that the lavish couture worn by Jahangir when juxtaposed by the rather plain dress donned by Akbar seems to create an image of hierarchy where the latter appears as older and wiser but without power.In the image, both the emperors and facing towards each other and Jahangir's hands seem to be open, as if accepting Akbar's wisdom on statecraft and religious harmony.
The inscription in the lower margin, written by the picture's patron, Shahjahan, introduces another presence, creating a triad of emperors.
A notable example of Mughal miniature paintings that reflects a fusion of the ideas of kingship, legitimacy, filial respect and royal portraits is Balachand's Jahangir and His Father, Akbar, from the Gulshan Album of Shah Jahan. It depicts Emperor Akbar and his son Jahangir standing face-to-face and being surrounded by the decorative floral frame typical of the Mughal period art. Halos around the heads of both figures represent their high status and their closeness to the divine, which is typical of the farr-i izadi, the concept developed in the Mughal Empire.
The difference in the appearance of these two men is of special importance. Jahangir appears to be dressed in fancy and elegant clothes whereas Akbar appears to wear simpler clothes. Such a contrast can be seen as a generation gap when Akbar represents an experienced ruler-father and Jahangir is the next generation ruler. The fact that Jahangir opens his hands and looks attentively at his father can also be interpreted as his readiness to accept his father's wisdom and ideas of government.
