Hashiya: A contemporary interpretations of an old artistic tradition

When margins form the centre. Avantika Bhuyan on contemporary interpretations of an old artistic tradition

There exists an exquisite painting, “Prince Khurram with His Son Dara Shikoh” (circa 1530), by an artist named Nanha. It is part of the Shah Jahan Album, also known as the Emperor’s Album, which contains 50 illustrated and calligraphic folios (41 of these belong to the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and nine are in the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC). The artist depicted Shah Jahan enjoying a quiet moment with his son. While the mainframe required Nanha to stay true to the features of the royal personage, it is in the painting’s borders that