"Four Portraits: (upper left) A Raja (Perhaps Raja Sarang Rao), by Balchand; (upper right) 'Inayat Khan, by Daulat; (lower left) 'Abd al-Khaliq, probably by Balchand; (lower right) Jamal Khan Qaravul, by Murad", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album 1525 - 1640

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painting, watercolor

portrait

water colours

painting

watercolor

men

islamic-art

miniature

Dimensions Overall page: H. 15 3/16 in. (38.6 cm) W. 10 3/16 in. (25.9 cm) Painting inside border: H. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm) W. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm) All four portraits: H. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm) W. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm) Portrait (top left): Ht. 5 5/16 in. (13.5 cm) W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm) Portrait (top right): Ht. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm) W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm) Portrait (bottom left): Ht. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm) Portrait (bottom right): Ht. 4 7/16 in. (11.3 cm) W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)

This artwork, "Four Portraits", now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was masterfully created by Balchand, along with contributions from Daulat and Murad, on a folio from the Shah Jahan Album. The composition is neatly structured into four distinct portraits, each framed within its own subtly colored space. These colors, ranging from soft greens to earthy browns, set a placid mood. The subjects, rendered with delicate precision, are placed in hierarchical order, which can be seen in their placement on the page. Balchand is excellent at using line and color to represent texture. The fabric and patterns on the clothing are highlighted, reflecting the status and identity of each figure. The arrangement of the four portraits, each framed, suggests a careful consideration of rank and relationships within the court. The overall effect is one of contained elegance, yet also of ordered power. The artwork invites us to consider the role of portraiture in constructing identity and affirming social hierarchies. It challenges us to interpret these visual cues within a complex cultural framework.