AN INDIAN RAJASTHAN PABUJI KI PHAD OR PAR PAINTING ON CLOTH

Hangings known as Pabuji ki Phad, depict scenes from the life of the 14th century hero, Pabuji, who is revered as a god and central to the narrative folk culture of the Rajasthani region. 

This example was possibly painted by Ramchandra Joshi, circa 1928 or there about. It is believed that he lived from 1867 until 1952, but became blind in 1944, having taught his son, the celebrated artist Shree Lal Joshi, the tradition and techniques of this unique Rajathani custom. The cotton surface is treated with rice starch and burnished with a heavy stone to form a ground for the gum based gouache medium. Typically the lengthy frieze was stored rolled up and stablised by two bamboo poles at either end then unfurled to form the backdrop to the performance of the epic Pabuji story. There are several inscriptions visible adjacent to the central figure of Pabuji, whose inflated size is relative to his status. These apparently reveal that the purchaser of the scroll was Bhopa Motimal (a priest and singer), for the sum of 301 Rupees and that a performance using the scroll would cost 25 Rupees.