Himachal has not only been blessed by a great natural heritage but also with an extremely vivacious cultural heritage. Himachal is deeply influenced by the culture of Tibet. Apart from this, Himachal also shares its borders with the state of Jammu Kashmir which again has its own very unique culture. Thus, the indigenous culture of Himachal Pradesh has been deeply influenced by these two cultures and hence presents a fusion unparalleled by any.

These artwork sutilize the finest Pahari fine art and has been perfected for more than centuries under the careful and generous imperial patronage. Spiritual and nature-inspired subjects are the characteristic of Kangra paintings but every particular part of the pack is furthermore embroidered with vibrant colors and sharp detailing.

History

Himachal houses the Chamba and Kangra schools of painting which are both looked up to in the nexus of art. Basically famed for their admirable depiction of the court and passionate scenes, these schools of art thrives by the amalgamation of colors and tiny information of the drawn figures. Apart from these, Himachal is also a house for another famous school of Art which is known as the Gompa School. Once limited to Buddhist monasteries, This school not surprisingly is a result of Buddhist advances in art. Steadily though, a quantity of the quixotic influences of the Chamba and Kangra schools have leaked into the Gompa School and has evolved it. Recent neighboring artists have absorbed the Gompa style of art into modern mélange pictures.

The erstwhile ruler of the region Shri Raja Goverdhan Singh was an admirer of art and hence invited and patronized a huge number of artists and painters from Delhi to his court. Perhaps as an influence of that the sprinkled kingdoms of Rajputs of Kangra experienced the evolution of a unique, one of its kind style of painting in the 18th Century. The promising miniature paintings further gushed to the forefront in the petite Regions of Nurpur, Kangra and Kullu, Chamba and in the end at Sujanpurtira which was already the epitome of Kangra Painitng. Jayadeva and Keshava Das inspired the themes of love and beauty in these art works. The very look of the paintings oh hills were revolutionized by the skills of these craftsmen who ushered Himachal into a new venture of art.

Painting Heritage of Himachal Pradesh

Himachal’s rich artistic heritage can be experienced in the museums and art galleries. Besides, the females in Himachal have preserved their heritage by magnificently drawing art and illustrative designs. Made on special occasions, these designs are also called as yantras.

Certain towns exhibit the canvas inheritance of Himachal Pradesh through the splendidly dazzling wall paintings. Usually used in the accommodation of honeymoon couples which are specifically organized for them. These are called 'torana griha'. Depicting the spirit of togetherness after the bond of marriage, these Painting are exceptional in their design

Pahari Paintings of Himachal Pradesh and History

Known as paharis, the art and legacy of the same has been kept alive as a flame from the 17th century and was further fuelled by the different schools of thought which ensured its brightness throughout the 19th century. These styles were so influential that they soon spread to other regions outside Himalyas. The rule of different princes encouraged this culture, as the rajput princely states were also fond of arts.

The Painting Style of Himachal Pradesh

In the golden era of the paintings in Himachal, Artists usually depicted the stories from the lives of princes. Their wars, hunting’s etc were the main themes. Radha Krishna and the Queens of the hills were also major love themes. Something very famous in those times was the Basholi style of painting. Known as the name of the region from where it originated, The Basholi style became one of the signature style and gave birth to a totally new facet and dimension of the painting in the region since the 17th century. The main individuality of the Basholi style of Art lies in its intensely vivacious coloring and its portrayal of the crucial emotions of life. The artworks were more often than not images of the prince. Due to the Rajput influense, the paintings have a rajasthani and Malwari touch.

Influence of Mughal Art and Buddhist Art in Paintings of Himachal Pradesh

The Mughals came in the 18th Century and garnished the existence of the Basholi style of art with their own influences that gave birth to a new dimension of art in himachal which was later known as Guler _ Kangra style. Under this style, Artists highlighted distinctiveness of the conventional Mughal structural design and paintings. The compelling employ of colors and the quasi-realistic landscapes were injected into the approach which led to an entire different style and approach. Considering its proximity to Tibet, Himachal was also influenced by the Signature designs and arts of the Buddhist Monks which was used by them to paint their clothing .