Pahari paintings are often compared with the Mughal, Deccani and Rajasthani Schools. Unlike those schools, in which of the following do Pahari paintings demonstrate challenges?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Their territorial classification
Option (1) Their preference for particular colours — Incorrect. Each centre showed its own traits through its choice of colours. This is not where the difficulty lies.
Option (2) Their territorial classification — Correct. Pahari paintings are hard to group by territory. The centres did not grow into independent schools, and dated material is scarce.
Option (3) Their depiction of nature — Incorrect. The depiction of nature is another way the centres showed individual traits.
Option (4) Their figural types — Incorrect. Figural types too are among the individual traits of each centre, not the difficulty.
NCERT (2026-27): “The Pahari Schools of Painting …Unlike the distinguishing stylistic features of Mughal, Deccani and Rajasthani Schools, Pahari paintings demonstrate challenges in their territorial classification. Though all the above centres crafted precisely individualistic characteristics in painting (through the depiction of nature, architecture, figural types, facial features, costumes, preference for particular colours and such other things), they do not develop as independent schools with distinctive styles. Paucity of dated material, colophons and inscriptions also prevent informed categorisation.” |