Indian Paintings

Painting has been a passion of man since prehistoric times in India and the world. Caves of Bhimbetka in India are the burning testimony of this fact. In Bhimbetka cave sites you will find geometric manifestation of animals and different activities of men. Scholars trace this period to be earlier than 5000 B.C.

Caves of Ajanta , Bagh and Sittanvasal are also a conglomeration of frescoes and murals beautifully painted in as early as 4-5 century A.D. From the references found in the Sanskrit literature we come to know about the society existing in ancient times and the inclination of society towards painting. According to these Sanskrit literary sources the existence


of picture-galleries was common not only in places and houses of well-to-do people but of also of ordinary people. Bhavabhuti in Uttararamacharitam records of the existence of picture gallery where paintings were hung and most of them were sketched by the painter Arjuna.

During this period the themes of bulk of paintings related to theological teachings, mythology and animals. Though some other less important themes were also taken up. Primarily five colors were in use: white, yellow, black, blue and the emblic myrobalan.

The advent of Mughals in the Indian political horizon played a great role in the development of Indian paintings. There was a shadow of Persian art in the new painting art form chiefly developed in the medieval period. This new art form is known as Minature paintings .

Many distinguished painters like Abdussamad, Bihzaad, Mansoor, Basawan, Daswant , Manohar, Jagannath, Abul Hasan and many other were patronized by the Mughal emperors. The foremost feature of Miniature paintings is that they contain very minute and subtle depiction of objects with distinct themes.

Miniature style of painting not only flourished in its own domain but also influenced a number of other regional painting styles which are presently known as Kangra School of
Art , Kishangarh School of Art. Mandi School of Art; Kota School of Art, Boondi school of Art, Jaipur School of Art , Mewar School of art and some more. Regional styles of Painting had their own distinctions and they all flourished as per the political stability of patron monarchs.

The heritage of Indian painting is very rich as it covers a wide range of themes, colors, techniques, artists and regions. The story of colors also is not less interesting as they have been prepared of a number of resources extending from different vegetational colors to innumerable minerals. Not only this but Indian paintings are drawn on a variety of materials too like cotton, silk, paper, canvas, cave walls, wooden flat surfaces and on many other places.