Bichitr

Most of his paintings are formal portraits, and a large number of portraits in the 1630s are credited to him. Stuart Cary Welch, noting that he painted the likeness of nearly every important personage from this period, calls him "the Mughal Van Dyke". He was active until the 1640s at least. Milo C. Beach concludes from Bichitr's clothing in self-portraits that Bichitr was Hindu.

Style

Milo C. Beach states that he paints with "a brilliant, but hard line", and calls his use of colors and patterns bold and assertive, producing an effect of "cold formality". Other critics have similar views of his work. Wheeler Thackston calls him the most observant of the Mughal artists.

Bichitr's work draws inspiration from European paintings. This influence is seen in his mastery of trompe-l'œil reflections and use of cast shadows.