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Wasli, also referred to as wasli paper, is a type of handmade paper used specifically for painting miniatures. It was devised in India, in the 10th century, and figures widely in Mughal-era painting.

Wasli can be produced to varying thickness and its uses range from classical/traditional painting methods with opaque water colors to building structures of various kinds.

Miniature Painting is a term used for making opaque/translucent water color paintings/illustrations on a small scale inspired from Persian or Pahari miniature schools and Wasli is used as a canvas for making miniatures.

The term derives from a Persian word Vasl which means union or coming together, oneness, etc.

Wasli is an acid-free paper and it has archival qualities. Paper-eating insects cannot eat it because of a poison copper sulphate (Neela Thootha) used its preparation. The glue typically used to paste sheets together is also acid-free, being made out of cooking flour.

To use it for miniature paintings this layered paper is burnished with either smooth glass or a sea shell. This way the paper is shiny and smooth and has minimal perceptible grain.

References

1. "Beyond the Page: The Miniature as Attitude in Contemporary Art from Pakistan". Pacific Asia Museum. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010.
2. "The World of Pahari Miniature Painting". www.123himachal.com. Retrieved 28 May 2019.

External links

• Notes from Modern Art Oxford on the 2007 Imran Qureshi Exhibition; includes illustrated tutorial on making wasli
• Nisar Ahmed Mian's tutorial on making wasli

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