Lahora Singh (born 1865) was a Sikh artist.[1] He was the disciple of Mohammad Bakhsh Musawar, whom was the father of Khalifa Imam-ud-din.[2] Early in his career, Lahora Singh worked in the Gumti Bazār, the artists' quarter of Lahore, but later would shift his base-of-operations to Dabbi Bazār in Lahore.[2][3] Whilst based in Gumti Bazār, Lahora worked alongside Abdur Rahman Chughtai.[3] Lahora was also commissioned by the rulers of Sikh states, such as Patiala and Kapurthala.[3] During the time of partition in 1947, disturbances in the city led to Lahora's studio in Gumti Bazār burning-down, leading to the loss of many of his works.[3] As a result, surviving works of Lahora are rare today.[3] Lahora had a disciple named Milkhi Ram.[2]
Lahora Singh Musawar | |
|---|---|
 Photograph of Lahora Singh, ca.1931 | |
| Born | 1865 |
| Died | Unknown |
| Style | Sikh School |
Lahora Singh was also an accomplished poet, being a disciple of Baba Hidiyatullah of Mohallah Chabuk Sewaran in Lahore.[2] Lahora produced a Punjabi-language version of the Heer Ranjha folktale, known as Hir Lahori, which he had decorated with illustrations.[1][4][2] Lahora also produced a complete and illustrated Janamsakhi work covering the traditional life-stories of Guru Nanak.[2] His unique Janamsakhi illustrations are monochromatic and didactic in-purpose.[2] A collection of his Janamsakhi artwork is kept in the collection of the Museum of Punjab Government Archives in Patiala.[2] A surviving lithograph of the ten Sikh gurus was kept in the personal collection of Hakim Gurcharan Singh of Amritsar.[2] Some surviving works of Lahora can be found in the Patiala Museum and in the private collections of the Kapurthala royals.[3]
Gallery
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Painting of all the Sikh gurus together, by Lahora Singh Mussawar, ca.1900 -
Portrait of a Sikh woman, by the Sikh artist Lahora Singh, circa first half of the 20th century -
Guru Nanak at school with his teacher Gopal Pandit, by Lahora Singh Mussawar, ca.1900 -
Guru Nanak in service at Daulat Khan Lodhi's stores, by Lahora Singh Mussawar, ca.1900 -
Painting of Maharaja Ranjit Singh seated with Baba Sadhu Singh Sodhi, by Lahora Singh, circa late 19th century -
Painting of Baba Sadhu Singh Sodhi hunting a lion, he was a descendent of Dhir Mal, by Lahora Singh, circa late 19th century -
Painting of Baba Gurditta Sodhi (eldest son of Guru Hargobind), by Lahora Singh, circa late 19th century -
Title page of Qissa Puran Bhagat, by Lahora Singh, Miyan Mango Lahore, 1923
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References
edit- ^ a b Mir, Farina (4 July 2010). The Social Space of Language: Vernacular Culture in British Colonial Punjab (illustrated, reprint ed.). University of California Press. pp. 88, 202, 268. ISBN 9780520262690.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Srivastava, R. P. (1983). Punjab Painting. Abhinav Publications. p. 52. ISBN 9788170171744.
- ^ a b c d e f Medugno, Enrica (June 2024). "Lot 237: A Sikh woman, by the artist Lahora Singh". Bonhams. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ Singh, Lahora (1931). Hir Lahori [Lahora's Hir]. Lahore: Gurdial Singh and Sons.