Indian Paintings & art, Modern Contemprarory Paintings in India, Paintings of India

Introduction of Painting of India-

Indian Paintings is a very old Indian art form, which very unique & so much diverse as ‘India’ Paintings in India has tremendously increased from ‘Rock Paintings’ to Modern contemprarory Paintings by the great painters like MF Hussian etc. The earliest evolution of Indian Paintings was the ‘Rock’ Paintings which had images of half human & half animal on them. Gradually the scenario changed & with many subsequent invasions by Greco –Romans, Iranian, Persian, Mughals Indian painting saw a new light.
The main principles came into focus of an Indian paintings constituted of Six ‘Limbs’ or ‘Sadanga’, which are described below.

• Rupabheda- knowledge of appearances.
• Pramanam- perception, measurement & structure.
• Bhava- Perfect emotions
• Lavanya Yojanam -Infusion of grace, artistic representation.
• Sadrisyam -alikeness.
• Varnikabhanga –how to use the brush & colors.

The Main Attributes to Indian Paintings were

a)‘Mural’ work is done on huge walls & other solid structures, in prehistoric times it was done on the rocks, its remnants can be founded in Ajanta Caves & Ellora ‘Kailashnath' Temple (Maharastra), Bhimbetka caves, in many other Temples & Palaces in southern India.

b) ‘Miniatures’ is the art work on the small and dispensable things like the paper, cloth etc. The Pala’s of Bengal started this type of artistic form in Indian painting. Miniature paintings type of Indian painting tempted Mughals & Rajasthani (Bundi, Kishangarh, Jaipur, Marwar and Mewar) schools of paintings.

1) Miniature Indian Paintings

Eastern Indian paintings & Western Paintings

With the advent of 10th century the new art form of miniature type of Indian painting style evolved in both eastern & western India. The Eastern miniature painting portrayed the Lord Buddha’s life on a palm leaves manuscripts & its wooden covers of size 2.25 by 3 inches & Western Indian paintings were also based on palm leaves manuscripts 2 to 4 inches in size. In this ’Jaina’ manuscript style is the most famous miniature painting. Western miniature painting acquired a developed status later by the end 16th century as other texts like Bhagwat Purana & Gitagovinda were converted into beautiful Indian miniature paintings.

Mughal Paintings

During 16th to 19th century in Mughal reign, a unique blend of Indian, Persian and Islamic style Miniature Indian Painting emerged & continued to gain popularity as the Mughals always wanted to record their achievements & activities like their huntings, Lavish Marriages etc. Starting from ‘Akbar’ to ‘Shahjahan’ the peculiar art form of Miniature Indian painting was patronized, but in last reign of Mughal Emperor ‘Aurangzeb’ who had no taste for the art ,so the artists migrated to Hyderabad & Rajasthan.

2) Rajput Indian Painting

In 18th century the royal courts of Rajputna, did significant kind of Indian paintings, which represented the greatest epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata. These paintings were done even walls of palaces, inner chamber of the forts, Havelis etc. The colors were extracted from plants minerals & precious stones.

3) Mysore& Tanjore Indian Painting.

Mysore & Tanjore type of south Indian painting which has originated from Karnataka & Tamilnadu respectively. These Indian painting are famous for its theme based paintings of hindu god & goddess. These paintings had the in depth details of the scenes from hindu mythologies & the only difference in these two south Indian paintings were the type color used, Mysore paintings have muted colors & the Tanjore painting used rich elegant colors. In modern India Mysore & Tanjore Indian painting have become a good option for souvenir during festival occasions in south of India.

4) Madhubani Indian Painting

Madhubani Painting is folk paintings of Bihar & it’s a style of uttradi mutt painting. These types of painting are centuries old & now mostly done by female artists Drawing of Hindu mythological characters, God & Goddess of that region were done.
This type of Indian wall painting is now shifted on to paper & hugely become a great work of folk art.

5) Bengal school of art

During British Empire the Bengal school of art was gaining a high rise popularity Indian painting scenario. It was starting of 20th century when great Indian painters like Ravi Verma, Rabindranath Tagore inspired everyone with their ‘Nationalist concepted ‘paintings. They painted Mughal inspired miniatures & this too invited the controversies. These types of Indian paintings soon lost its touch due some modernized thinkers.

6) Modern Indian Paintings

By the time independence occured the modern era saw a light of new thoughts in paintings of India. Now the new genres of painters like MF Hussian & SH Raza represented about the human Conditions & its surroundings .Modern India’s paintings did had impression of west but certainly it was based on Indian themes. Artists of new India bought new techniques & Materials from west but to create an imagery of real India in their Paintings.
Post independent India had made a distinct status in the world of paintings.

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