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Indian Cultural Paintings Biography
Indian paintings provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day. From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian painting has evolved over the years to become a fusion of various cultures and traditions. The Indian painting was exposed to Greco-Roman as well as Iranian and Chinese influences. Cave paintings in different parts of India bear testimony to these influences and a continuous evolution of new idioms is evident. Indian paintings traditions go back to antiquity, as is evident from the murals of Ajanta, Ellora and other frescoes, the Buddhist palm leaf manuscripts, the Jain texts and the Deccan, Mughal and Kangra schools of miniature Indian painting.
Indian Painting is an old tradition, with ancient texts outlining theories of color and and anecdotal accounts suggesting that it was common for households to paint their doorways or indoor rooms where guests resided. Cave paintings from Ajanta, Bagh and Sittanvasal and temple paintings testify to a love of naturalism. Indian paintings provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day. This form of art in India is vivid and lively, refined and sophisticated and bold and vigorous at the same time. From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian paintings have evolved over the years to become a fusion of various traditions which influenced them.
Murals (Frescoes)
Murals in India date back to times beyond the pages of history. Painting murals is intrinsically linked to Indian painting traditions. In fact, murals are considered to be the earliest evidence of Indian paintings unearthed from the remnants of ancient civilization. India has a rich tradition of paintings since ancient times. In fact, in classical texts like Kamasutra of Vatsyanana, painting is considered as one of the 64 arts while Vishnudharmottarapurana accords it the status of the supreme art. It is also accepted as the giver of all deeds i.e. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
The earliest paintings appear in the form of cave or rock wall paintings called Murals in pre historic India, in the region of Uttar Pradesh and Central India. These mural paintings are executed on bare rocks or diversely prepared supports and grounds or plasters, and the colors materials are derived from the natural materials like terra verte, red ochre, chalk, and yellow-ochre mixed with animal fat.
The figures of human beings and animals, hunting and family scenes are the central themes of these murals, which convey the observant eye and the trained hand even in man’s savage state.
According to the Vinaya Pitaka, the noted courtesan Amrapali of Vaishali instructed the painters to paint on the walls of her palace the figures of kings, traders, and merchants seen by them. It was by seeing the portrait of Mauryan ruler Bimbisara painted on the wall that she lost her heart to him. There are also numerous references to Chittagaras or picture halls or galleries maintained by the rulers in the ancient texts. Painting referred as Alekhya was a medium of expression of artist’s deepest instincts and emotions reconciled and integrated with his social experiences and cultural heritage.
Miniature Painting
IThe culture and history of the western Himalayas gave birth, to an Art form in the17th Century, which we now know as the Miniature Paintings. Though known specimens of this art form can be traced only to the latter part of the 18 th Century, one has every reason to believe that this art form existed way before the datable specimens.
The themes of these paintings included the Ragas or musical codes of Indian Classical music. There were three primary schools of Indian Miniature Paintings - the Rajput, the Mughal and the Deccan schools.
The colorful illuminations, which captured the fancy of the royalty and aristocracy, emerged in the medieval period. The illustrated manuscripts of Jains and Buddhists, and the flowering of the Mughal, Rajput, and Deccan Miniatures are noted for their meticulous execution and artistic skills. The fine stroke of brushes conveyed the themes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvata Purana, Rasikpriya, Rasamanjiri, etc.These masterpieces of yore have a universal appeal which still touch the right chord of the audience.
The irony of history never ceases to amaze. The mighty Himalayas nurtured in its western valleys, a School of Paintings known as the “Miniature”. This intricate school of art was characterized by delicate brushwork and existed in the forms of ‘illuminations' (Drawings included in a book, especially in medieval manuscripts) or normal paintings. Miniature Paintersused varied substances for coloring their drawings, namely- minerals, vegetables, precious stones, indigo, conch shells, pure gold and silver.
Madhubani Painting
Madhubani, a village nestled in the State of Bihar, literally translated means the forest of honey. The village is acclaimed worldwide for its folk paintings called Madhubani paintings or Maithil Paintings. Madhubani paintings were done by the womenfolk on the walls of the houses at the auspicious occasions. Women from the castes of Maithil Brahmins and Maithil Kayasths were the primary practitioners of this folk painting.
The painting was executed on smooth mud walls plastered with cow dung. Often, a coat of whitewash was also applied before actually starting the process of the painting. Traditionally, vegetable colors mixed with oil and milk or gum were employed. The primary colors in the madubani paintings were pink, yellow, blue, red, green, black and white. A piece of rag tied to a twig or a sliver of bamboo frayed at the end was used as a brush.
At the time of decorating the wall, women of the household and even from the neighborhood used to come together, the most experienced woman used to take the charge and drew outlines of the figures. Once, the outlines were sketched the other women used to fill in the colors in the shapes. Young girls were usually assigned the task of holding the pots of paint and preparation of paintbrushes. The idea was that they should get well acquainted with the ritual and technique of painting by the time they leave for their husband’s house.
Maithil Brahmins paintings can best be described as casual collection of figures, which seem to float like aimless creatures in a single flat plane yet gracefully harmonize with each other in the picture space. There is ample use of the blues, yellows, pinks, and reds in these fantasy paintings where the figure seems to have a waiving vitality.
It was a creative media to reach the divinity and bow’s one head in deep reverence for his blessings and goodness. Madhubani Paintings continue to fascinate all and one for their lively yet innocent depiction of themes which are humane on one hand and divine on the other hand.
Indian painting has a very long tradition and history in Indian art. The earliest Indian paintings were the rock paintings of pre-historic times, the petroglyphs as found in places like Bhimbetka, some of them from before 5500 BC. India's Buddhist literature is replete with examples of texts which describe palaces of kings and the aristocratic class embellished with paintings, but the paintings of the Ajanta Caves are the most significant of the few survivals. Smaller scale painting in manuscripts was probably also practised in this period, though the earliest survivals are from the medieval period. Mughal painting represented a fusion of the Persian miniature with older Indian traditions, and from the 17th century its style was diffused across Indian princely courts of all religions, each developing a local style. Company paintings were made for British clients under the British raj, which from the 19th century also introduced art schools along Western lines, leading to modern Indian painting, which is increasingly returning to its Indian routes.
Indian paintings provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day. From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian painting has evolved over the years to become a fusion of various cultures and traditions.Indian paintings can be referred to as the mirror of India's fascinating history from the ancient times. Bringing about a reflection of religious beliefs, political events and social customs, Indian paintings offer a beautiful record of centuries and provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day.
Wall Paintings
The earliest examples of India's long tradition of painting are the wall paintings that attained excellence in the caves of Ajanta, Bagh and Badami, during the period between 200 BC to 700 CE. The themes of these wall-paintings range from Buddhist legends to decorative patterns and showcase permanent human values and principles.
Miniature Paintings
Indian miniature paintings were done with an idea of symbolism. The symbolic language recorded the miniaturists' communion with natural wonders. The subjects were basically derived from myths served as the base for transformation of nature into art, human and supernatural. 'Miniature' is small size meticulous painting in detail and delicate in brushwork. The art of palm-leaf illuminations were traditionally labeled as patra-lekhana in medieval Indian canons.
Mughal Paintings
The first miniature paintings are said to have been brought from Persia, by the Mughal Emperor Humayun in the 16th century. The Indo-Persian school combined the abstract calligraphic style of the Persians with the more sensuous Indian ones.
During the reign of Emperor Akbar, books were embellished with miniature art and great Indian and Persian epics were illustrated. This mughal school of art influenced the paintings done in various parts of the country.
The mighty mughal rulers of the 16th and 17th centuries appreciated and sponsored exquisite workmanship in the decorative paintings for manuscripts and albums. The cohesive formulation of styles at the Mughal court came to an end, however, when the sixth emperor, Aurangzeb, at the end of the 17th century disbanded the court workshops in the name of Muslim orthodoxy. From this time forward, Mughal painting increasingly reflected the decentralization of both power and patronage. The gap between the sense of entitlement of Mughal rulers and their actual circumstances is most evident in portraiture, as artists struggled to give the imperial presence its former glory.
Kalamkari
Kalamkari is an exquisite ancient craft of painted and printed fabrics. It derives its name from Kalam meaning Pen, and Kari meaning work, literally Pen-work. It is hand painting as well as block printing with vegetable dyes. The kalamkari works of art drawn entirely by hand, were origionally created predominantly for the temples as narrative murals.These murals tell the stories of the great Hindu epics in picture form.
Indian traditional art is in many ways a discovery of the 20th century. The bold local styles of the village artisan have always been the major contributor to the evolution of Indian art. Folk art in India does not merely bear an identical resemblance to the original model, but is an act of creation, full of impressions and symbols. The roots of art in India do not live in idealistic art itself but are firmly attached to life-once this is understood, there is no defend, justify or excuse Indian art. Art has become an international expression. Although its regional accents, influenced by different traditions may vary, its basic language is understood everywhere. Contemporary Indian paintings is a reflection of this universal speech.
Indian Cultural Paintings Biography
Indian paintings provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day. From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian painting has evolved over the years to become a fusion of various cultures and traditions. The Indian painting was exposed to Greco-Roman as well as Iranian and Chinese influences. Cave paintings in different parts of India bear testimony to these influences and a continuous evolution of new idioms is evident. Indian paintings traditions go back to antiquity, as is evident from the murals of Ajanta, Ellora and other frescoes, the Buddhist palm leaf manuscripts, the Jain texts and the Deccan, Mughal and Kangra schools of miniature Indian painting.
Indian Painting is an old tradition, with ancient texts outlining theories of color and and anecdotal accounts suggesting that it was common for households to paint their doorways or indoor rooms where guests resided. Cave paintings from Ajanta, Bagh and Sittanvasal and temple paintings testify to a love of naturalism. Indian paintings provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day. This form of art in India is vivid and lively, refined and sophisticated and bold and vigorous at the same time. From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian paintings have evolved over the years to become a fusion of various traditions which influenced them.
Murals (Frescoes)
Murals in India date back to times beyond the pages of history. Painting murals is intrinsically linked to Indian painting traditions. In fact, murals are considered to be the earliest evidence of Indian paintings unearthed from the remnants of ancient civilization. India has a rich tradition of paintings since ancient times. In fact, in classical texts like Kamasutra of Vatsyanana, painting is considered as one of the 64 arts while Vishnudharmottarapurana accords it the status of the supreme art. It is also accepted as the giver of all deeds i.e. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
The earliest paintings appear in the form of cave or rock wall paintings called Murals in pre historic India, in the region of Uttar Pradesh and Central India. These mural paintings are executed on bare rocks or diversely prepared supports and grounds or plasters, and the colors materials are derived from the natural materials like terra verte, red ochre, chalk, and yellow-ochre mixed with animal fat.
The figures of human beings and animals, hunting and family scenes are the central themes of these murals, which convey the observant eye and the trained hand even in man’s savage state.
According to the Vinaya Pitaka, the noted courtesan Amrapali of Vaishali instructed the painters to paint on the walls of her palace the figures of kings, traders, and merchants seen by them. It was by seeing the portrait of Mauryan ruler Bimbisara painted on the wall that she lost her heart to him. There are also numerous references to Chittagaras or picture halls or galleries maintained by the rulers in the ancient texts. Painting referred as Alekhya was a medium of expression of artist’s deepest instincts and emotions reconciled and integrated with his social experiences and cultural heritage.
Miniature Painting
IThe culture and history of the western Himalayas gave birth, to an Art form in the17th Century, which we now know as the Miniature Paintings. Though known specimens of this art form can be traced only to the latter part of the 18 th Century, one has every reason to believe that this art form existed way before the datable specimens.
The themes of these paintings included the Ragas or musical codes of Indian Classical music. There were three primary schools of Indian Miniature Paintings - the Rajput, the Mughal and the Deccan schools.
The colorful illuminations, which captured the fancy of the royalty and aristocracy, emerged in the medieval period. The illustrated manuscripts of Jains and Buddhists, and the flowering of the Mughal, Rajput, and Deccan Miniatures are noted for their meticulous execution and artistic skills. The fine stroke of brushes conveyed the themes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvata Purana, Rasikpriya, Rasamanjiri, etc.These masterpieces of yore have a universal appeal which still touch the right chord of the audience.
The irony of history never ceases to amaze. The mighty Himalayas nurtured in its western valleys, a School of Paintings known as the “Miniature”. This intricate school of art was characterized by delicate brushwork and existed in the forms of ‘illuminations' (Drawings included in a book, especially in medieval manuscripts) or normal paintings. Miniature Paintersused varied substances for coloring their drawings, namely- minerals, vegetables, precious stones, indigo, conch shells, pure gold and silver.
Madhubani Painting
Madhubani, a village nestled in the State of Bihar, literally translated means the forest of honey. The village is acclaimed worldwide for its folk paintings called Madhubani paintings or Maithil Paintings. Madhubani paintings were done by the womenfolk on the walls of the houses at the auspicious occasions. Women from the castes of Maithil Brahmins and Maithil Kayasths were the primary practitioners of this folk painting.
The painting was executed on smooth mud walls plastered with cow dung. Often, a coat of whitewash was also applied before actually starting the process of the painting. Traditionally, vegetable colors mixed with oil and milk or gum were employed. The primary colors in the madubani paintings were pink, yellow, blue, red, green, black and white. A piece of rag tied to a twig or a sliver of bamboo frayed at the end was used as a brush.
At the time of decorating the wall, women of the household and even from the neighborhood used to come together, the most experienced woman used to take the charge and drew outlines of the figures. Once, the outlines were sketched the other women used to fill in the colors in the shapes. Young girls were usually assigned the task of holding the pots of paint and preparation of paintbrushes. The idea was that they should get well acquainted with the ritual and technique of painting by the time they leave for their husband’s house.
Maithil Brahmins paintings can best be described as casual collection of figures, which seem to float like aimless creatures in a single flat plane yet gracefully harmonize with each other in the picture space. There is ample use of the blues, yellows, pinks, and reds in these fantasy paintings where the figure seems to have a waiving vitality.
It was a creative media to reach the divinity and bow’s one head in deep reverence for his blessings and goodness. Madhubani Paintings continue to fascinate all and one for their lively yet innocent depiction of themes which are humane on one hand and divine on the other hand.
Indian painting has a very long tradition and history in Indian art. The earliest Indian paintings were the rock paintings of pre-historic times, the petroglyphs as found in places like Bhimbetka, some of them from before 5500 BC. India's Buddhist literature is replete with examples of texts which describe palaces of kings and the aristocratic class embellished with paintings, but the paintings of the Ajanta Caves are the most significant of the few survivals. Smaller scale painting in manuscripts was probably also practised in this period, though the earliest survivals are from the medieval period. Mughal painting represented a fusion of the Persian miniature with older Indian traditions, and from the 17th century its style was diffused across Indian princely courts of all religions, each developing a local style. Company paintings were made for British clients under the British raj, which from the 19th century also introduced art schools along Western lines, leading to modern Indian painting, which is increasingly returning to its Indian routes.
Indian paintings provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day. From being essentially religious in purpose in the beginning, Indian painting has evolved over the years to become a fusion of various cultures and traditions.Indian paintings can be referred to as the mirror of India's fascinating history from the ancient times. Bringing about a reflection of religious beliefs, political events and social customs, Indian paintings offer a beautiful record of centuries and provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day.
Wall Paintings
The earliest examples of India's long tradition of painting are the wall paintings that attained excellence in the caves of Ajanta, Bagh and Badami, during the period between 200 BC to 700 CE. The themes of these wall-paintings range from Buddhist legends to decorative patterns and showcase permanent human values and principles.
Miniature Paintings
Indian miniature paintings were done with an idea of symbolism. The symbolic language recorded the miniaturists' communion with natural wonders. The subjects were basically derived from myths served as the base for transformation of nature into art, human and supernatural. 'Miniature' is small size meticulous painting in detail and delicate in brushwork. The art of palm-leaf illuminations were traditionally labeled as patra-lekhana in medieval Indian canons.
Mughal Paintings
The first miniature paintings are said to have been brought from Persia, by the Mughal Emperor Humayun in the 16th century. The Indo-Persian school combined the abstract calligraphic style of the Persians with the more sensuous Indian ones.
During the reign of Emperor Akbar, books were embellished with miniature art and great Indian and Persian epics were illustrated. This mughal school of art influenced the paintings done in various parts of the country.
The mighty mughal rulers of the 16th and 17th centuries appreciated and sponsored exquisite workmanship in the decorative paintings for manuscripts and albums. The cohesive formulation of styles at the Mughal court came to an end, however, when the sixth emperor, Aurangzeb, at the end of the 17th century disbanded the court workshops in the name of Muslim orthodoxy. From this time forward, Mughal painting increasingly reflected the decentralization of both power and patronage. The gap between the sense of entitlement of Mughal rulers and their actual circumstances is most evident in portraiture, as artists struggled to give the imperial presence its former glory.
Kalamkari
Kalamkari is an exquisite ancient craft of painted and printed fabrics. It derives its name from Kalam meaning Pen, and Kari meaning work, literally Pen-work. It is hand painting as well as block printing with vegetable dyes. The kalamkari works of art drawn entirely by hand, were origionally created predominantly for the temples as narrative murals.These murals tell the stories of the great Hindu epics in picture form.
Indian traditional art is in many ways a discovery of the 20th century. The bold local styles of the village artisan have always been the major contributor to the evolution of Indian art. Folk art in India does not merely bear an identical resemblance to the original model, but is an act of creation, full of impressions and symbols. The roots of art in India do not live in idealistic art itself but are firmly attached to life-once this is understood, there is no defend, justify or excuse Indian art. Art has become an international expression. Although its regional accents, influenced by different traditions may vary, its basic language is understood everywhere. Contemporary Indian paintings is a reflection of this universal speech.
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
Indian Cultural Paintings
