Pahari art show opens in Washington
Washington, April 30
A major exhibition of Indian art has opened in the American capital. It showcases rare paintings from the Himalayan hill kingdoms, highlighting a lesser-known but influential tradition.
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
Reader Comments
Interesting timing—why is this only getting attention now? India's Himalayan art has been around for centuries, yet it takes a US exhibition to make headlines back home. Hope this inspires Indian museums to do more for such heritage. Still, the show sounds fascinating, especially the never-before-exhibited pieces from that private collection.
As someone from Himachal, this makes me so proud! 🏔️ Pahari art is not just about paintings—it's the soul of our mountains. The mention of 'radically different styles' from lyrical to abstracted is spot on; you see the diversity even within a single village. I hope the exhibition includes works from Basohli and Kangra schools—they're iconic.
Lovely to see Indian culture showcased globally, but I wish we'd focus on preserving these artworks in India itself. So many Pahari paintings are in foreign museums—the Benkaim collection is just the latest. Why can't we have a dedicated Pahari museum in Shimla or Dharamshala? Still, kudos to the curators for the scholarship.
Finally! As an art historian, I've long argued Pahari paintings are as sophisticated as Mughal miniatures but often overlooked. The focus on collaborative communities is a fresh perspective. And the accompanying book 'Pahari Paintings: Art and Stories' sounds like a must-read. I hope it becomes available in India soon.
The Sackler Gallery is a great venue for this—they've done wonderful work with Asian art before. I love that the exhibition highlights the 'fine detail that delights and
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