Rare Pahari Paintings from Himalayan Hill Kingdoms Debut in Washington

Titled "Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India's Himalayan Kingdoms," the exhibition runs from April 18 to July 26, 2026, at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the National Museum of Asian Art.​

The show features 48 works created for Hindu kings in the Pahari region of north India between the 1620s and 1830s. Curators say the paintings are "some of the world's most beautiful-yet least understood-works of art" from the Himalayan region.​

The exhibition explores how artists in the hills of northern India worked across steep terrain, snowy peaks, and narrow valleys. It highlights the diversity of styles that emerged in the region. Painters worked in "radically different styles ranging from lyrical and naturalistic to boldly coloured and abstracted," reflecting varied cultural and religious influences.​

The works also reveal how artists collaborated in communities rather than working alone. The exhibition "illuminates new scholarship on the collaborative artist communities in which most painters worked," offering new insights into how the paintings were produced.​

Curators have organised the display to provide historical context. The paintings reflect the political, cultural, and religious life of the time. Visitors are encouraged to "look closely to enter a world of fine detail that delights and astounds," pointing to the intricate craftsmanship in each piece.​

A key part of the exhibition is a group of works acquired from art historian Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim. The museum said, "Some of these artworks have never been exhibited publicly before," underscoring the significance of their display.​

The exhibition also includes works on loan from the Cleveland Museum of Art. These are shown alongside pieces from the museum's own collection to provide a broader view of the Pahari tradition.​

The Washington show is part of a wider effort to highlight Pahari art. It runs alongside related exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum. A publication titled "Pahari Paintings: Art and Stories" accompanies the exhibition.

- IANS