A Royal Procession
We began our exploration of the Rajput miniatures with the Mewar School. We have come full circle with the Udaipur School. Geographically Udaipur is part of Mewar in Rajasthan. But Udaipur School is different from the Mewar School. Having lost Chittor to the Mughals, the Ranas of Chittor settled in Udaipur. Their concerns turned from battles to royal procession and love.
The Udaipur miniatures are easily distinguishable: the men sport heavy beards, but with small turbans called a 'paagh'. The women have long pigtails or buns as their hairstyle. The figures are squat, at times too disproportionate and they appear like midgets.
Here we see the Maharaja of Udaipur in a royal procession. This painting beautifully depicts the gender divide and the social classes of its time. The Ranis, like painted dolls, are confined within the high walls of the palace. Their movements are restricted. The women who can break through the confines of the palace are either the royal dancer--who has broken the social norms, or the servants--who are like chattels. It is the men who can move about outside the walls. The Maharaja, with his high social status, looms large over others. The courtiers are shorter than him; the 'mahawat' (the elephant driver) is miniscule.
This is not a painting of particular individuals. It is a portrait of the society of its time. It has been painted keeping in mind the social status of the persons in mind. The artist is not glorifying the Maharaja. He is revealing the social structure of his time. The painting is more than what meets the eyes.
The Udaipur miniatures are easily distinguishable: the men sport heavy beards, but with small turbans called a 'paagh'. The women have long pigtails or buns as their hairstyle. The figures are squat, at times too disproportionate and they appear like midgets.
Here we see the Maharaja of Udaipur in a royal procession. This painting beautifully depicts the gender divide and the social classes of its time. The Ranis, like painted dolls, are confined within the high walls of the palace. Their movements are restricted. The women who can break through the confines of the palace are either the royal dancer--who has broken the social norms, or the servants--who are like chattels. It is the men who can move about outside the walls. The Maharaja, with his high social status, looms large over others. The courtiers are shorter than him; the 'mahawat' (the elephant driver) is miniscule.
This is not a painting of particular individuals. It is a portrait of the society of its time. It has been painted keeping in mind the social status of the persons in mind. The artist is not glorifying the Maharaja. He is revealing the social structure of his time. The painting is more than what meets the eyes.
No comments:
Post a Comment