Disintegration of the Mughal empire resulted in the artists of the ateliers scattering in various regions. Their art, together with local influences created excellent works, though none compared with the Mughal miniature painting. In this painting from the Punjab hills, the painter's indebtedness to Mughal prototypes is clear. Here we see four men carrying a dead animal, tied on two poles to facilitate its transportation. Two men are leading the others; one of them being the hunter who has shot dead the beast with his bow and arrow. The bow may not be visible but a quiver full of arrows justify our observation. They are all wearing similar kind of clothes and turbans. They all have sashes tied around their waists. The features are quite typical with sharp noses and well defined eyes. The expressions are dissimilar though, those on the faces of men in front show them being in control of things and the others following directions. The painting narrates a story by itself. The contorted body of the bear and the cruelly tied up limbs tell a sordid tale hunting. India has a very old tradition of hunting as a royal sport and is a subject of several miniature paintings. This painting is not that of a scene of action but past hunt. The men are passing through a hilly region, hence the foreground and the background have mounds of grassy hills. A shallow pond with weeds around can also be seen in the picture.

As mentioned earlier, the Mughal influences have not been shaken off so far. The artist exhibits not only a distinct Mughal attitude towards color, space, composition and the observation of natural events, but a kindred interest in psychology as well - and that is what makes this painting complete.

This description by Renu Rana.