Art of Pahari India

From the 17th to the 19th century, the Himalayan region of Pahari was home to a distinctive tradition of Hindu court painting. Known as Pahari paintings, these works were commissioned by royal patrons and often depicted musical and poetic themes, love stories, and scenes from the life of the Hindu god Krishna. Artists from hereditary communities prepared works using elaborate pigments and detailed sketches. By the mid-19th century, photography began to replace painting as a way of depicting Pahari landscapes and royal portraits, marking a new era.

Royal lovers watching rain clouds: The month of Bhadon, from a Barahmasa, c. 1790. Northern India, Pahari kingdoms.