Basohli

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Scope note
Refers to a regional school of Pahari miniature painting that flourished in the Indian hill states during the late 17th and the 18th centuries. Paintings in the Basohli style are the earliest known Pahari paintings. Although the school takes its name from the small independent state of Basohli, the main center of the style, examples are found throughout the region. Characteristic features include: bold line and color, oblong format, red borders, monochromatic backgrounds, and arbitrary but striking use of architectural and decorative design. Faces are usually exaggerated and stylized, often shown in profile with large, intense eyes. A distinctive technique is the use of thick, raised drops of white paint to represent jewelry, with actual parts of green beetles' wings representing emeralds.
Basohli
Accepted term: 18-Nov-2024