Kangra painting

The artistry of Kangra paintings was significantly advanced by Nainsukh and Manaku, sons of Pandit Seu, a painter from the Guler state.

A group of artists, including Manku, Khushala, Kishan Lal, Basia, Purkhoo, and Fatoo, played important roles in the development and proliferation of this art form between the 18th and 19th centuries.

[9] Nainsukh (1710–1778), succeeded by two generations of his family workshop, introduced a distinctive style that combined Mughal elements with personal innovations.

This style reached its zenith during the reign of Maharaja Sansar Chand Katoch (r.1776–1824), who was a great patron of Kangra art.

Noted as a generous patron, the painters working at his atelier received large commissions while others accepted a permanent settlement in the form of lands.

In 2022, during a visit to the United States, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi gifted Kangra miniature paintings to US President Joe Biden.

Bhakti cult was the driving force and the love story of Radha and Krishna was the main source of spiritual experience, which was also the base for the visual expression.

Bhagavata Purana and the love poems Gita Govinda by Jayadeva were the most popular subjects dealing with the legends and the amorous plays of Radha and Krishna symbolizing the soul’s devotion to God.

Krishna subjects, known commonly as Krishna-Lila predominate, while the themes of love, inspired by the Nayaks and nayikas and baramasa enjoyed great favor.

The Sat Sai depictions of the legendary lovers, on the other hand, were set against an architectural background with walls, balconies, and windows.

Kangra paintings influenced by the Bhagavad Purana portrayed incidents from the life of the young Krishna, against the Brindavan forest or river Yamuna.

In 1973, the Himachal Pradesh government started a training centre for young artists at Rait village in Kangra valley.

The person in charge of developing this centre was Chandu Lal Raina, an exponent of Kangra painting and a descendant of Pandit Seu and Nainsukh.

[13][18] Project Srijan is an initiative that aims to preserve and promote traditional Kangra art by digitizing and making it accessible online, thereby broadening its reach.

It also runs a workshop where genuine Kangra Paintings are made on traditional handmade paper using only mineral and vegetable colors.