Paintings of India – Art & Culture Notes for APSC, UPSC & State Exams
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The tradition of paintings has been carried on in the Indian subcontinent since the ancient times. With time, Indian classical paintings evolved to become a sort of blend of the various traditions influencing them.
In the beginning Indian painting was essentially religious in purpose. As time passed by Indian painting became a fusion of various culture and traditions. During the colonial era, Western influences started to make an impact on Indian art.
INDIAN PAINTING GENRES
Cave Painting : Cave paintings date back to the prehistoric times. The finest examples of these paintings comprise of the murals of Ajanta, Ellora, Bagh, Sittanavasal etc. It reflect an emphasis on naturalism.
Madubani Painting : Madhubani painting originated in a small village known as Maithili of Bihar. Initially, the women folk of the village drew the paintings on the walls of their home, as an illustration of their thoughts, hopes and dreams.
Miniature Painting : Miniature paintings are handmade paintings, which are quite colourful, but small in size. The peculiarity of these paintings is the intricate and delicate brush work, which lends them a unique identity.
Mughal Painting : Mughal painting is a particular style of Indian painting, generally confined to illustrations on the book and done in miniatures. It emerged, developed and took shape during the period of the Mughal Empire. Mughal painting reflects an exclusive combination of Indian, Persian and Islamic styles.
Mysore Painting : Mysore painting is a form of classical South Indian painting, which evolved in the Mysore city of Karnataka. These paintings are known for their elegance, muted colours, and attention to detail. The Themes for most of these paintings are Hindu Gods and Goddesses and scenes from Hindu mythology.
Rajput Painting : Rajput painting originated in the royal states of Rajasthan. Each Rajput Kingdom evolved a distinct style, but with certain common features, Rajput paintings depict a number of themes, events of epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, Krishna’s life, beautiful landscapes, and humans. Miniatures were the preferred medium of Rajput painting.
Tanjore Painting : Tanjore Painting is one of the most popular forms of classical South Indian Paintings. It is the native art form of Thanjavur (also known as Tanjore) city of Tamil-Nadu. These dense composition, surface richness and vibrant colours of Indian Thanjavur paintings distinguish them from the other types of paintings. The themes for most of these paintings are Hindu Gods and Goddesses and scenes from Hindu mythology.
Pattachitra : Pattachitra refers to the folk painting of the state of Orissa, in the eastern region of India.‘Patta’ in Sanskrit means ‘Vastra’ or ‘Clothings’ and ‘Chitra’ means paintings. The tradition of Pattachitra is closely linked with the worship of Lord Jagannath. The painters use vegetable and mineral colours without going for factory made poster colours. They prepare their own colours.
Bengal schools of painting : The Bengal School of Art was an influential style of art that flourished in India during the British Raj in the early 20th Century. It was associated with Indian nationalism, but was also supported and promoted by many British art administrators. The Bengal School’s influence in India declined with the spread of modernist ideas in the 1920s.