EXPLORING KRISHNA’S DEPICTION IN PAHARI SCHOOL OF PAINTINGS AS ARTISTIC EXPRESSION

Abstract [English]

The Pahari School of miniature paintings is an art tradition that flourished in the hilly regions of North India, particularly in the present-day states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. This school of painting emerged in the 17th century and flourished under the patronage of various rulers and nobility.This research attempts to explore Krishna’s depiction in Pahari school of paintings to examine how these artworks symbolize artistic creativity and devotion. The study centres around the portrayal of Krishna to unveil the artistic interpretation of Krishna narrated in religious scrpitures and literatures. Drawing upon visual sources and scholarly articles , the study analyzes various aspects of Krishna’s representation in the Pahari paintings especially focusing on the emotional aspects captured by the artists. By combining religion with the philosophy of art, the research attempts to highlight the purpose of art as a mode of expression signifying art as a form of devotion and spirituality. Through a detailed analysis, the study highlights the relevance of Pahari school of paintings as a preserver of our cultural ethos.