Pahari painting changed sharply in the eighteenth century. Which of the following statements about this change is NOT correct?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Most scholars now hold that the change was caused by artists migrating from the Mughal atelier.
Option (1) In the early eighteenth century, the style of the Seu family conformed to the Basohli idiom. — A correct point about the change. Scholars agree the Seu family and others worked in the Basohli idiom early in the century.
Option (2) From the middle of the eighteenth century, the style passed through a pre-Kangra phase. — A correct point about the change. From the middle of the century the style moved through a pre-Kangra phase and matured into the Kangra style.
Option (3) Most scholars now hold that the change was caused by artists migrating from the Mughal atelier. — Not a correct point about the change. Most scholars now dispute the old view that migrating Mughal artists caused the change. They link it to new paintings, mainly Mughal, that reached the hill kingdoms.
Option (4) Recording the daily routine of kings was among the themes of the newly emerging style. — A correct point about the change. Scenes from the daily routine or important occasions in the lives of kings belong to the new style.
NCERT (2026-27): “Scholars agree that in the early eighteenth century, the style of the Seu family and others conformed to the Basohli idiom. However, from middle of the eighteenth century, the style transformed through a pre-Kangra phase, maturing into the Kangra style. …Most scholars, now, dispute the earlier hypothesis that the sudden change was caused and initiated by the migration of artists from the Mughal atelier.” “…Themes that included recording the daily routine or important occasions from the lives of kings, creation of new prototype for female form and an idealised face, are all associated with this newly emerging style that gradually matures to the Kangra phase.” |