Between the late 16th and early 17th centuries A.D., the royal state of Rajasthan played a vital role in the development of the unique art form of Rajput Paintings. Because the Mughals ruled most of Rajasthan’s princely states, the Rajput paintings had a strong Mughal influence. As a result, every Rajput Kingdom has many similarities and differences, having evolved with different styles.

The Chaurapanchasika group’s supremacy in Rajasthani Rajput Paintings is the most noticeable and distinguishing attribute. The biggest epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, are one of the principal themes in Rajasthani paintings. Landscapes, human people, and even heavenly figures such as Lord Krishna are all represented beside this. Portraits of the ruling family, who have regularly seen hunting, were famous at times. In addition, the Rajput Paintings depicted Hindu mythology.

The temple palaces, Havelis, and inner rooms of the various forts are shown in Rajput paintings. Paint is made up of various colours taken from various plants, minerals, stones, and even gold and silver.

Rajput art is separated into two genres called Qalams. First, the Jaipur Qalams was named after one of the most potent Rajput states. The name Kangra was given to the other Qalam after a group of small states in the Punjab-Himalayan region.

Schools of Rajput paintings:

  1. Mewar School

In 1571 AD, a polished style of Mewar painting emerged for the first time. It had utterly superseded the ‘Apabhramsa’ by that time.

Female characters are depicted on a smaller scale than their male counterparts. Males wear loose-fitting embroidered Patras and Turbans, while girls wear loose-fitting long skirts, cholis, and transparent odhnis (veils). Birds, animals, and trees are shown in beautiful paintings.

Styles of Mewar school-

  • Nathdwara style
  • Sawar style
  • Udaipur style
  • Chavand style
  • Devgarh style
  1. Marwar school

The Marwar School refers to the paintings created by the royal family of Kishangarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali, and Ghanerao.

Styles of Marwar school includes:

  • Jodhpur style- Deer, camel, crow, and horses are all featured in these paintings. These paintings have more of a folk feel to them and are less influenced by Mughal traditions.
  • Bikaner style-The Bikaner style contains more Mughal characteristics than any other Rajasthani painting style. This was since numerous Mughal painters worked in Bikaner. Portraits, bara masa, Ragamala, Bhagwat Purana, and Krishna Lilas are among the topics covered.
  • Kishangarh style-This minor circumstance Kishan Singh founded it in the early years of the 17th century. The romantic lives of Radha and Krishna, influenced by Jaydev’s Geet-Govinda, is one of the Kishangarh painters’ favourite topics.
  1. Hadoti school

Rao Chattar Shal (1631-1659 AD), Shah Jahan’s administrator of Delhi, founded the Hadoti school of painting. This area was a veritable treasure trove of artistic treasures. Hadoti paintings are frequently recognised as among the best in the Rajput style.

Styles of hadoti school are:

  • Bundi style-In this, women are depicted with small round faces, receding foreheads, big noses, and full cheeks, Lush landscapes painted in brilliant hues and massed with a variety of tree and flowering creeper forms, water ponds with lotus flowers in the forefront, fish and birds are also features of the Bundi School. 
  • Kota style- The Kota hunting scenes, which portray princes and nobles with their retinue hunting lions and tigers in the region’s rugged and sparsely covered woodlands, are world-famous. The Kota style is regarded as a subset of the Bundi style. Nature is depicted in all her grandeur in the Kota style paintings.
  1. Dhundar school

The Thunder painting school was well-known for its unique folk artworks.Hada Rajput lords in the Bundi and Kota districts established this painting style. These two facilities’ tiny paintings are exquisite works of art depicting attractive women with wide cheeks, huge eyes, long necks, and pointed noses.

Styles of dhundhar school are-

  • Amber Style-Amber-style paintings have a significant Mughal influence. The Amber style has its unique features, with Rajasthani folk art heavily influencing the shape of both male and female bodies.
  • Jaipur Style-This school was founded in the 18th-century A.D.Life-size portraits, depictions of myths, ragas, astrological concepts, and many funny and sensual themes were all hallmarks of the Jaipur school of painting.

 

Critical differences between Mughal and Rajput schools of painting-

  1. In the Imperial style, the Mughal school of painting arose. It was primarily created for the enjoyment of Princely connoisseurs. On the other hand, the Rajput school of painting was intended for the general public and dealt with a far broader range of subjects.
  1. The Mughal paintings were based on Iranian art. In fact, the Mughal style of painting arose from the fusion of Iranian and Indian painting traditions. The Rajput school of painting was primarily composed of Indian artists.
  1. The Mughal artists painted contemporary topics, whilst the Rajput painters painted externally significant subjects.
  1. From the beginning, Mughal paintings were miniatures, whereas Rajput paintings were much more significant and painted on walls.
  1. Mysticism and religion are prominent in Rajput paintings. While Mughal painting was primarily concerned with religion.

Conclusion

Rajput paintings are a perfect representation of feudal life, with its warlike, aristocratic elements stressing ‘clans.’ The artistic works of Rajput Paintings reflect the personality of the clan’s ‘ruler.’ Rajput Paintings began to emerge in Bundi around the late 16th century, and they were heavily influenced by Mughal art.