A nayika tricked by her lover’s friend, Vidushaka Nayaka; folio from the “Third” Rasamanjari. India; Himachal Pradesh, Nurpur, circa 1710–1715. Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper. National Museum of Asian Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection—funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art, S2018.1.14
Longing: Painting from the Pahari Kingdoms of the Northwest Himalayas
February 6 – June 7, 2026
Members Opening: Thursday, February 5, 5-6 pm (members only)
Curator Lecture: Thursday, February 5, 6-7pm (free with museum membership)
Sunday Sounds: Sunday, February 8, 1-2pm (free)
CAM Kids Day: Saturday, March 7, 10am-3pm (free)
The Cincinnati Museum of Art is pleased to present Longing: Painting from the Pahari Kingdoms of the Northwest Himalayas opening February 6. Featuring more than 40 works of art, the exhibition displays colorful court paintings from present-day India dating between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. These small, portable paintings were produced for royal and noble patronage by artists practicing unique artistic techniques. Influenced by the region’s culture and politics, they portray moments of leisure, religious devotion, and political positioning, and were given as gifts between regional nobility, families, and political allies. Many paintings portray devotional acts meant to connect with the divine; others depict individuals and couples who yearn for romantic dalliance; still others portray rulers and noblemen who longed to be at the center of political control. Organized around the theme of “longing,” the exhibition encourages visitors to experience art as multisensorial. Select paintings are paired with olfactory stations, touch opportunities, and musical soundscapes to heighten the work’s bhava (emotion or mood) and to encourage multiple ways to physically, intellectually, and emotionally connect with art.
Join them for a dynamic lineup of related programs, from curator-led talks to immersive experiences that pair court paintings with live music—inviting audiences to experience art as truly multisensorial.
To learn more, click here.