Pahari painting developed in several hill centres, such as Basohli, Nurpur and Kangra. Given below are two statements. Which of them is/are incorrect?
Statement I: The Basohli style outgrew itself and matured into the Kangra style.
Statement II: Nurpur artists retained the dainty figure types of Basohli with the vibrant colours of Kangra.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Only Statement II is incorrect
Statement I: The Basohli style outgrew itself and matured into the Kangra style. — Correct. This is how the change from Basohli to Kangra came about.
Statement II: Nurpur artists retained the dainty figure types of Basohli with the vibrant colours of Kangra. — Incorrect. Nurpur artists kept the vibrant colours of Basohli and the dainty figure types of Kangra. The statement swaps the two.
NCERT (2026-27): “It is believed that when the Basohli style had outgrown itself and matured into the Kangra style, Nurpur artists retained the vibrant colours of Basohli with the dainty figure types of Kangra. Due to marital relations between Basohli and Mankot, few artists from Basohli seem to have shifted to Mankot, thereby, developing a similar school of painting. While Jasrota had an indulgent patron in Balwant Singh and the school is well-known through his numerous portraits painted by his court artist, Nainsukh, who led the earlier simple Basohli style to new sophistication. This style of Nainsukh is also referred to as the Guler–Kangra style.” |