Karna Slays The Kaikeya Prince Vishoka

The painting of "Karna killing the Kaikeya Prince Vishoka", is a page from the famous Razmnama. The Razmnama is the Mughal version of the Mahabharata. Badshaha Akbar, curated artists, for the translation Mahabharata to be translated in Persian in the 1500s. The Razmnama was a way for Akbar to share the Indian story with the people who spoke Persian in the Mughal court. This page shows a fight from the Kurukshetra war "The Mahabharata". Karna is seen attacking the Kaikeya prince Vishoka. The painting is full of energy. There are horses running chariots moving fast bows being shot and swords being swung. All these things create a lot of movement in the picture.. Even with all this action the artist made the picture clear and easy to understand. The way the Khemkaran has painted it is the style popular during the time of Emperor Akbar. The lines are delicate the colors are bright and nice to look at. The artist also paid attention to the details like the weapons what people are wearing and how the horses are moving. There is an inscription below the painting. This painting is not, about a battle, it shows how the Mughal court under Akbar, liked to bring cultures and ideas together. The Razmnama is an example of this. It combines literature, art and cultural exchange all in one. Karna and the story of the Mahabharata are a part of this.