Basohli and Kullu painting each had features of their own. Consider the following statements:
(A) Basohli painting is marked by a stylised treatment of vegetation.
(B) Kullu figures have a prominent chin and half-closed eyes.
(C) Kullu painters made lavish use of grey and terracotta red colours in the background.
(D) Basohli painters used raised white paint to imitate emeralds in ornaments.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Two
(A) Basohli painting is marked by a stylised treatment of vegetation. — Correct. A stylised treatment of vegetation is one of the marks of the Basohli style.
(B) Kullu figures have a prominent chin and half-closed eyes. — Incorrect. Kullu figures had a prominent chin but wide open eyes.
(C) Kullu painters made lavish use of grey and terracotta red colours in the background. — Correct. Kullu made lavish use of grey and terracotta red in the background.
(D) Basohli painters used raised white paint to imitate emeralds in ornaments. — Incorrect. Raised white paint imitated pearls. Emeralds were shown with shiny green particles of beetle wings.
NCERT (2026-27): “Basohli School The first and most dramatic example of work from the hill states is from Basohli. From 1678 to 1695, Kirpal Pal, an enlightened prince, ruled the state. Under him, Basohli developed a distinctive and magnificent style. It is characterised by a strong use of primary colours and warm yellows — filling the background and horizon, stylised treatment of vegetation and raised white paint for imitating the representation of pearls in ornaments. However, the most significant characteristic of Basohli painting is the use of small, shiny green particles of beetle wings to delineate jewellery and simulate the effect of emeralds.…” “…Briefly mentioning the aspects of the other centres, one finds portraits of the rulers of Chamba in the seventeenth and early eighteenth century in the Basohli style. Kullu emerged with a distinctive style, where figures had a prominent chin and wide open eyes, and lavish use of grey and terracotta red colours in the background was made.…” |