BORDER DECORATION IN THE MUGHAL MINIATURE PAINTINGS: A VISUAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The Mughal era has always been known for its cultural and traditional vibrancy. Mughal art and architecture are full of experiences and surprises. Among the many beautiful arts taken on by the Mughals from their predecessors, book illustration was one of them. Mughals had a marvelous painting tradition. Their paintings during the 16th and 17th centuries, with the fusion of Persian, Indian, Chinese, and European elements, hold significant quality and elegance. The artworks exhibited numerous distinctive and compelling features during the height of Mughal miniature painting. The borders were considered an essential element in album decoration, not only for their association with the illumination of the book and enhancing the beauty of the manuscript, but also in protecting the image. This paper analyzes border decoration in the Mughal miniature paintings, emphasizing its motifs, colors, layouts, and stylistic features. This visual analysis draws attention to the artistic approaches employed in these decorative borders and reveals the aesthetic and cultural significance rooted in these often-unnoticed details.