A Journey Through the Canvas of Indian Art

Introduction

Indian art is an assortment of art forms with diverse styles and traditions. Some prevalent art forms are Paintings, Pottery, sculpture, and textiles. Every region of India has its mode of expression to offer, but one thing that stays in common is the religious motifs. These ancient art of India are often seen accentuating Mythological Figures, along with a variety of patterns of flora and fauna. The origin of Indian art can be traced to the ancient settlements with complex characteristics of various religious and cultural beliefs. 

A Tapestry of Time: Exploring Indian Art Periods

  • Ancient India (Prehistoric - 8th Century CE): The rich journey of Historical Indian paintings began in central India, ancient rock carving with a distinctive exhibition of Humans and animals showcasing their way of living. the Indus Valley civilization witnessed the emergence of rock paintings, terracotta figurines, and Temple art, the 5th century Ajanta and Ellora caves narrating the tales of ancient Indian mythology. 


  • Medieval India (8th - 18th Century CE): In these centuries the art forms in India were highly determined by various cultural groups like Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism accentuating the beauty of Indian culture. The Mughal paintings were generally influenced by Persian skills, shaped as Indian miniature paintings that mainly represented the values in the form of Islamic art.Rajput paintings eventually took the form of miniature paintings, the artists were ordinary people less educated based upon religious teachings and concepts of the community.


  • Colonial India (18th - 19th Century CE): Traditionally Indian art skills were passed from generation to generation in a closed society. After the emergence of the Britishers art schools were established all over India that attracted a lot of upper-class students to learn modern art along with Western styles and techniques. Paintings from this period were made with oil paints that were first introduced by Raja Ravi Varma. His subjects were Majorly Hindu deities and legends from the Puranas. In the early 20th century during the British Raj, the Bengal School of Art was founded by Abanindranath Tagore. The goal of this institute was to promote Indian artwork Improvising on the cultural heritage. 


  • Modern India (20th Century - Present): Modern Indian art is mainly influenced by the Western art movements and their techniques. The emergence of Independent artists and their diverse styles inspired by the Indian themes and images. 

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Beyond the Canvas: Unveiling Diverse Art Forms

  • Indian Canvas Painting: There are different styles of Indian canvas paintings that are popular because of their unique styles and characteristics. Warli paintings were done by the women folks of the indigenous Warli tribe of Maharashtra and Gujrat. This painting is known for its description of social life with scenes of daily life. Madhubani, also known as Mithila is a painting style from from the Mithila region of Bihar that mostly depicts nature and Hindu devotion. 


  • More Than Paintings: Apart from these paintings there are Indian art forms of bronze and stone sculpture that were found in the Indus Valley civilization on the sites of Harrappa and Mohejodaro. Such sculptures were outnumbered greatly by the endless amount of pottery often depicting animals and deities.  


Conclusion: From prehistoric rock carvings to Modern contemporary styles, Indian art has evolved its way through centuries enduring the legacy of cultural art forms and the continuous spread of rich ethnic values. Soak in the beauty and elegance of these ancient arts by exploring museums showcasing Indian art or you can even visit specific art centers to sail into Indian folk art. 


Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_painting

https://www.exoticindiaart.com/paintings/

https://muselot.in/blogs/news/20-traditional-painting-styles-in-india


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