PAINTING THE SEASONS

THE BARAMASA MINIATURE PAINTINGS DEPICT IN RICH DETAIL WHAT MONSOON IN THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD LOOKED LIKE

- ARCHANA KHARE-GHOSE

IT’S THE MONTH OF Shravan, in the early 19th century. A Raja has taken a break from his courtly duties, and is on the terrace of his palace. The sky is overcast with rainbearing clouds. He draws his beloved closer, and holds her tenderly while pointing to the cloud-saturated sky.

That’s the visual expression of Shravan or Saawan, the monsoon month corresponding to July-August of the Gregorian calendar, in a miniature court painting attributed to the school of Sajnu, the artist patronised by Raja Isvari Sen of Mandi (in present day Himachal Pradesh). This places the painting in the early 19th century, circa 1820s.

In another such miniature painting, the sky is leaden with thick, black monsoon clouds as Krishna has a tryst with his beloved in a pavilion in the foreground, while a sakhi keeps guard outside. This undated painting is an illustration of the month of Ashaadha, corresponding to June-July of the monsoon season in the subcontinent. Both these exquisite examples of miniature paintings represent a celebration of monsoon.

The rainy season in the Indian subcontinent is a time of special significance in the life of people, resulting in an effulgence of happiness through festivals, rituals, and literature. In fact, monsoon has often been accorded a higher position in culture than other seasons, because of the feeling of love, desire, and longing that it evokes, inspiring artists to create long-lasting works of art.

BARAMASA PAINTINGS