Basholi

Region – Kashmir

Basholi painting is the oldest and most vibrant school of the Pahari miniature tradition, originating from the Kathua region of Jammu and Kashmir. This style is instantly recognizable for its bold use of primary colors, such as mustard yellow, burnt orange, and deep red, which create a striking visual intensity. A unique and luxurious feature of these artworks is the use of real beetle-wing fragments (from the Buprestidae beetle) to simulate the shimmering effect of emeralds in the jewelry of the figures. The characters are depicted with distinct physical traits, notably large, lotus-shaped eyes and receding foreheads, which lend a powerful and emotive quality to their expressions