Monsoon art: How seasons are influencing Udaipur atelier or Mewar paintings

Udaipur: "You, offspring of the world-renowned cloud family of the Pushkaravartakas, servant and being of rain god Indra…

You, refuge, rescue, and water for the parched, oh cloud, carry a message to my beloved for me, as I am torn away by the wrath of the Lord of wealth"

This is a translation of the poem from Meghaduta – by 5th-century Sanskrit poet Kalidasa extracted from one of the essays in the book ‘Monsoon Feelings – A History of Emotions in the Rain’. The book is a compilation of articles on the history of monsoon feelings as represented in South Asian arts and culture.

South Asian art draws a lot from emotions and sensorial experiences. This is on display in how we view the seasons, especially in India, which is manifested in the art of the region. Monsoons are not just about fury and flood, but also about bountiful crops, beauty, and romance. Monsoon is viewed as a harbinger of good times. Monsoons have been making their way into popular culture, literature, art, dance, and music of the land, naturally.

Representation of Monsoons in Art & Literature

In India, one of the endearing confluences of music, seasons, and painting/art can be seen in the poetic genre derived from folk traditions. For example, Barahmasa poems (once oral tradition adapted by poets in several languages) are classic literary pieces that are primarily themed around the woman’s longing for her husband through the various months and seasons, and the monsoon especially. This poetic expression made its way into art as well. There are of course the Raagmalas and the rasikapriya paintings where monsoons have been a recurring theme.

These works, miniature in style, heavily drawing from the Mughal art have given way to larger canvasses and wider themes in later centuries - especially, the 17th and 18th century artworks commissioned by successive Maharanas of Udaipur that carry a unique identity in the art world. Smithsonian Museum of South Asian Art in Washington, DC held an exhibition of 70 paintings of the Royal Court of Udaipur until May 2023 - that now moved to Ohio to be displayed at Cleveland Museum.

While retaining various signature elements of art from earlier times, the artists of Mewar have widened their scope, brought in newer elements, recreated scenes from within the palace walls, drew with much diligence the vibrancy of the city, the palaces and the turrets, the magnificence of it all finding reflection in the serene waters of the Pichola lake, and the lush greenery of the forests and the hills beyond.

Dr Debra Diamond, the Elizabeth Moynihan Curator of South Asian and South East Asian Art at the Smithsonian Museum of Asian Art curated the exhibition along with Dr Dipti Khera, scholar of South Asian art and associate professor at New York University, who has done extensive research on 17th and 18th century Udaipur paintings. Using sound and light Debra created the experience of monsoons while viewing these paintings for the less initiated western visitors when they were at the Smithsonian.

These paintings are distinct from the miniatures of earlier Rajasthan. They are huge canvasses that are experiential while documenting the life of the royalty, and their governance, the people of Mewar, the festivals, and seasons, especially monsoons

These works, miniature in style, heavily drawing from the Mughal art have given way to larger canvasses and wider themes in later centuries - especially, the 17th and 18th century artworks commissioned by successive Maharanas of Udaipur that carry a unique identity in the art world.

While retaining various signature elements of art from earlier times, the artists of Mewar have widened their scope, brought in newer elements, recreated scenes from within the palace walls, drew with much diligence the vibrancy of the city, the palaces and the turrets, the magnificence of it all finding reflection in the serene waters of the Pichola lake, and the lush greenery of the forests and the hills beyond.

Monsoons in the Udaipur Atelier

Udaipur atelier has had its fair share of monsoon-themed paintings. While some of the works celebrate the monsoons, others depict the vagaries of it.

One such painting is of Maharana Fateh Singh crossing the river on horseback during monsoon; the 1886 painting by artist Shivlal recreates the mood to perfection, the scale adding to the experience. Serpentine lighting breaks from the dark monsoon clouds and torrential rain pours on the verdant hills. The palace of Sajjangarh is seen on one peak! In addition to showcasing the skill of the painter, and the artistic influences – the painting allows you into Udaipur of the times and shows the intense face of the monsoons.

This painting belonging to City Palace Museum, Udaipur is now part of the travelling exhibition in the United States – Splendid Land. City Palace Museum--Udaipur has contributed 24 paintings, 1 sketch, and 5 vintage photographs for the exhibition, several among them have been restored for the purpose.

Debra Diamond shares: There was a separate room for monsoons with its mood done in deep purple color and sounds of thunder played in the background. Unlike the West, in India, monsoons are most awaited even though they destroy a few places. The visitors when they entered the room could immerse in the mood of monsoons. It was like a teaching gallery.

"People of the East Coast, United States do not positively think of monsoon. It is a good place to explain how monsoons are related to romance, show the glorious landscapes, and water harvesting, and how much kings did to make it possible for populations to live and prosper in the semi-arid region of Rajasthan. Sometimes I get them to smell the Mitti perfume.” said Debra Diamond.

She also explains how these paintings would have been commissioned by the rulers to showcase Udaipur in all its grandness and good governance, which includes water management and of course the festivals and seasons. It was a strategic tool to bring together people to take pride in their identity post-Mughal rule. The many influences on Mewar paintings

Andrew Topsfield, art curator and scholar of Indian art says in one of his books, “The artistic sensibility of Mewar is rooted in the perennial values of indigenous folk art and the vigorous 16th century early Rajput style that has grown from it.”

According to him it is also about the assimilation of foreign influences and adapting them into – their distinctive vision, and pictorial tradition.

This explains how seasons that are so much part of tradition and artistic language, especially monsoons have continued to be a recurring theme even in the Udaipur atelier or Mewar paintings despite being distinct in many ways.

One can view some of the Mewar paintings on display at the City Palace Museum when visiting Udaipur. The exhibition at Cleveland Museum will go on till September 10.