The Mughal Miniature Paintings- Inspiring The Present!

Mughals form a crucial part of the history of the Indian subcontinent. While politically, the Mughals enjoyed a patronage over most of the subcontinent, art blossomed under their rule too. The most significant contribution of Mughals to the immense field of art is the Mughal Miniature Paintings. A significant school under the genre of Indian Miniature Paintings, this school of Mughal Art has seen a conglomeration of several foreign and indigenous folk traditions, which contributed to the rich fabric of the Mughal canvas. The art of miniature paintings found its way into India through the two artists whom Humayun had brought back from the Safavid court, Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad. Humayun had sought refuge in the court of King Tamsahp of Safavid dynasty upon being dethroned by the Sher Shah Suri. Upon his re-accession, the Mughals found themselves re-established on the Indian soil, and would continue to reign for approximately next three centuries. Mughals fostered a love for art, which can be seen in the remnant chronicles of the time, like Baburnama, Akbarnama and other books and records. The art saw a decline under Aurangzebs reign and saw a migration of the artists from the Mughal court to several other areas of the subcontinent, mostly to the rich patrons. The Mughal Miniature Paintings has seen a revival, with several modern scholars seeking to restore the lost grace and beauty of the art form. The contemporary miniature paintings borrow massively from the technique, format, and imagery of the Mughal miniatures, and seem to inculcate the features extensively in the modern day miniatures. While several artists in the subcontinent have been able to replicate the masterpieces extensively, the modern scene of miniature paintings is witness to an interesting amalgamation. From artists like Mir Sayyid and Abdus Samad, who came to India with Humayun, to the present day artists like Shazia Sikander, Imran Qureshi and Aisha Khalid, the form of Indian Minature Paintings has come a long way, with digital animation becoming an intrinsic part of the art form. While several modern day artists have retained the allegorical motifs and the traditional figure of the emperor in order to preserve the grandeur, several artists have introduced several innovations in the frame. Some artists have tried to preserve the originality and the interesting quality of the antique miniature paintings by using Calligraphy and paints made out of the organic materials like minerals and vegetables. Using these techniques has caused the Mughal Miniature Paintings to find themselves back into the foray of scholarly research and general appreciation, thus, making it once more the art form of the people.