The Basohli Painting School is a famous school of miniature paintings that originated in the town of Basohli in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, during the 17th century. The Basohli School is known for its bold, vigorous, and intense style, characterized by bright colors, bold outlines, and expressive facial features.
The paintings of the Basohli School depict scenes from Hindu mythology, particularly the love story of Radha and Krishna. The style of painting is unique, with figures depicted in a stylized manner, with elongated fingers and toes, almond-shaped eyes, and sharp facial features.
The Basohli paintings were initially created as illustrations for texts, particularly religious texts, and were used to communicate complex religious concepts to the masses. However, over time, the Basohli style of painting became popular among the elite and aristocratic classes, who commissioned painters to create elaborate paintings for their homes and palaces.
The Basohli School of painting had a significant influence on the development of the Pahari School of painting, which emerged in the nearby regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir in the 18th century. The Pahari School adopted several features of the Basohli style, including the bold use of colors and the expressive facial features.
Today, the Basohli School of painting is recognized as an important art form and is showcased in museums and galleries around the world. Several artists and craftsmen in the Basohli region continue to practice this ancient art form, and tourists visiting the area can see these artists at work and even purchase their paintings as souvenirs.
