Prince A'zam Shah Enters Ahmedabad
Attributed to Chitarman II (Kalyan Das) Indian
This rare and majestic drawing depicts the historic occasion of Prince ‘Azam Shah’s entry into the city of Ahmedabad along with his son Wala Jah. The scene, captured in enthusiastic detail by a confident hand, includes scores of figures that convey the drama of the moment, such as the unruly mob scrambling for coins tossed to them. No other Mughal drawing exists that is quite like this one in terms of its size, subject matter, and detail. Clarity of line and close reportage were greatly valued in Mughal art, and here we see the lively detail at full strength, not covered up by color.