User:Gvictor85422/sandbox

Mughal Paintings: In what ways did Mughal painting develop and flourish during the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan?

During the reign of the Mughal Empire, many emperors altered the order and behaviors present in the court under their rule. The personal attitude of the emperors determined how they chose to rule as well as what restrictions they placed on their people. Some of these restrictions either hinder or encouraged artistic expression.

One of the earliest emperors to rule over the Mughal empire was Babur, descendant to the conquerors Timur and Khan.Under his rule, the court was often informally organized meaning that there were loose restrictions on those who worked in the court, as well as for people who worked for the court. Due to these loose restrictions, the customs present at the time were focused on absolute peace. This mindset was then expressed into Mughal paintings and architecture. Under the rule of his son's, Humayun, Babur's conquest was almost lost only to be saved by Akbar and Jahangir.

Akbar's rule established a celebratory theme among the Mughal Empire. In this new period, Akbar persuaded artist to focus on showing off spectacles and including grand symbols like elephants in their work to create the sense of a prospering empire. Along with this new mindset, Akbar also encouraged his people to write down and find a way to record what they remembered from earlier times to ensure that others would be able to remember the greatness of the Mughal empire.

Shah Jahan was believed to be the greatest ruler because he ruled during the Mughal Empire's most prosperous period. Even though this period was titled the most prosperous, artists during this time were expected to adhere to representing life in court as organized and unified. For this reason, most art created under his rule focused mainly on the emperor and aided in establishing his authority. The purpose of this art was to leave behind an image of what the Mughal's believed to be the ideal ruler and state. Architecture was also believed to be an important priority under Shah Jahan's rule, one of the greates works of architecture that resides in India was created under Shah Jahan's rule. The Taj Mahal was created in honor of one of Shah Jahan's wife and is remembered today as one of the greatest works of ancient architecture. Mughal paintings were also a common practice during this time due to the growing influence of European ideals on ancient Indian traditions. Inspired by the miniature European paintings, Indian artists developed a new interest in the natural world and realism, focusing more on creating realistic forms and point of views. Unlike architects, painters could gain authorship by including themselves in their pieces.

With the collaboration of both Shah Jahan and Akbar the court became much more organized and unified. With the new mindset present in the court, the ruling class also became much more involved in each other's affairs and overall merged into a more coherent effort.