Question

The artworks produced under the supervision of Shah Jahan concentrated more on:

• A. Subliminal qualities and exalted beautification.
• B. Detailed political conquests and seminal court scenes.
• C. Illustration of manuscripts such as Hamza Nama.
• D. Flat perspective and strong use of lines.

Hint:

Think of the Taj Mahal: it's perfectly symmetrical, opulent, and designed to be an idealized vision of paradise. The painting style of Shah Jahan's reign shares these qualities of formality, perfection, and idealized beauty.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the primary characteristics of painting during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The reign of Shah Jahan marked a shift in Mughal artistic patronage from the dynamic naturalism of Jahangir's time to a more formal, opulent, and idealized style. While architecture (like the Taj Mahal) was his primary focus, painting also developed distinct characteristics. The art of this period moved away from depicting energetic action scenes (like conquests or hunts) and focused on creating an aura of imperial grandeur and perfection.
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Characteristics: The paintings are known for their technical perfection, rich use of gold and jewels, formal and static compositions, and idealized portraits. The goal was to portray the emperor and his court in a majestic, almost divine light. This focus on perfection, ideal beauty, and grandeur can be described as subliminal qualities and exalted beautification.} \\ \bullet & \text{Incorrect Options: Detailed conquests (B) and large manuscript projects like the Hamza Nama (C) were characteristic of Akbar's reign. Flat perspective and strong lines (D) are features of pre-Mughal or very early Mughal painting, which had been superseded by more sophisticated techniques by Shah Jahan's time.} \\ \end{array}\]

Step 3: Final Answer:
The art of Shah Jahan's period concentrated on subliminal qualities and exalted beautification.