Pahari Masters

Book excerpt: Pahari painting has long been acknowledged as one of the great achievements of India in the realm of art. The Pahari painter, however, has always been relegated to an indeterminate, anonymous background, seen mostly as a craftsman following pre-determined patterns. This book recovers these artists. Presented here is neither merely a history of Pahari painting nor yet another study of the art of the northern hill states, but a search for the makers of the images. The authors have chosen from the best work of fourteen Pahari masters, spanning three hundred years, from as many as twenty museums and private collections across the world. They have gathered as many facts as possible in an effort to bring the artists into sharper focus. From the vast number of paintings available, those included have been carefully selected in an effort to illuminate the range of each master's work and the processes of thought that may have been behind their art.