KARACHI, June 15: A unique painting of the Guler School, a branch of Pahari paintings, is on display as the ‘Object of the Month’ for June 2007 at the National Museum of Pakistan.

The painting is of a lady as a ‘naika’ who upbraids her lover. She is dressed in gold with a patterned skirt and a red dupatta, while she approaches her lover who stands in front of her, with his left hand resting on his back.

The man is dressed in yellow, wears a loose yellow turban, black lined pajama and holds a long, slim stick in his right hand. There is a white building with a doorway and a tree in the background.

The area of the East Punjab hills comprises numerous small states ruled by Rajputs. The mountainous setting not only ensured a secure separation from the rest of the subcontinent but also led to the separation of the states from each other. Thus, many of the states gave rise to different styles of painting from the 17th century onwards. The subject matter was decided according to the wishes of each ruler.Among the hill paintings those of Kangra, Noorpur, Basoli, Guler, Chamba, Garhwal, Hindur, Jammu, Kalhur, Mandi, Siba and Mankot are the most famous.

Guler had traditional links with Kangra, the largest of the neighbouring states.