I feel proud and privileged presenting before you the Indian Paintings. Here below 10 Types of Indian Painting are given.
1. Kalighat Paintings
It was started in the 19th century Bengal in form of watercolor painting by artist for sell to the travelers who visiting Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata, India. They symbolize by vast sweeping brush lines, dauntless colors (bold colors), and elucidation/simplification of forms. Kalighat Paintings are started by artist who does scroll paintings.
Scroll Paintings famous in rural areas. These paintings were made on Cloth. They illustrate traditional picture of Gods and Goddesses, scenes/spectacles from epics like ‘Tulsidas- Rama Charitra Manas’ or ‘Ramayana’. These painters visit place to place with scroll paintings they singing songs and showing their paintings. These painters are known as ‘Patuas’ or artist troubadour. They come to Calcutta but British conditions are making difficulty for them to adjust therefore they went to Kalighat Temple where they found opportunity, demand of religious art and settled at local areas. They started learning new techniques of painting with watercolor on cheap paper, thin or hemp paper easily and faster which increase their revenue and a new form of Indian paintings were born that is ‘Kalighat Paintings’.
2. Kangra Painting
Kangra is the most populous district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Himachal Pradesh is an ancient princely state which favors the art. Kangra Painting is a pictorial art of Kangra. It became famous when Basohli School of painting became hazy during 18th centure. This rich art was begun in the small state Guler, in the Lower Himalayans during the early 18th century. When a family of Kashmiri painters competent in Mughal style needed dwelling at the court of Raja Dalip Singh (r. 1695-1741) of Guler. Kangra Paintings main centres were Basohli, Chamba, Bilaspur, Guler, Nurpur and Kangra. These paintings are belonging to the school of Pahari Paintings that was favors by the Rajput rulers between the 17th and 19th centuries. The artists supported themes which belong to spiritual times of Radha and Krishna love story, Nala and Damayanti stories, Bhagavad Purana. Kangra Paintings colors made from vegetables, leaves and minerals which provide real, fresh and cool colors. Focal Theme of Kangra Painting is Shringar (erotic sentiment) based on Radha and Krishna love story.
3. Madhubani Painting
Madhubani (Madhu means Honey & Ban means forest of woods) means Forest of Honey, Madhuban is located in eastern region of India and Northern Part of Bihar (Bihar is State of India). It is said that Bihar completed its language and existence period of 2500 years. Madhubani Painting also called as Mithila Painting related to the style of Indian Painting. Mithila was one of the kingdoms which first established in eastern India. This is one of the rich and finest art form in India, also form of wall art. It was said that Madhubani art originated from ancient time that is the time of Ramayana when Lord Rama wedding to the King Janaka’s daughter Sita, King Janaka called artists for decorating his Palace. Madhubani art was originated in Madhubani Village, which is a city of Ancient Mithila (Janakpur) presently in Nepal. The Womens have real intense desire for Madhubani Art; women began paintings of Gods and Goddesses for explanation their religiousness and their intense desire towards the Mithila or Madhubani Art. Womens of Brahman, Dusadh and Kayastha communities painted Mithila or Madhubani Paintings in Mithla Region of Nepal & India. It is done on paper, cloth, wooden panel, canvas, garments etc. This art is accepted by many religions women including Sikh, Muslims. In ancient period these paintings are mostly done on walls, floors, huts. These paintings are made from the paste which is come out from rice powered. These paintings are mainly used to represent men and its nature towards the society, scenes, heroic sculpture, birds, sun, moon etc.
Five types of Madhubani Art are:-
a) Bharni- These paintings expressed by Brahman & Kayashth womens (Upper Caste)
b) Katchni- Paintings were expressed by Brahman & Kayashth Women (Upper Caste)
c) Tantrik- These paintings also expressed by Brahman & Kayashth Women (Upper Caste)
d) Godna- These paintings expressed by Dalit & Dushadh
e) Gobar- These paintings also expressed by Dalit & Dushadh
But today in this present era no caste system in between artists.
4. Mughal Painting
Mughal Painting is one of the most finest and rich art form of India. Mughal Painting manifest of unique alliance of Islamic, Indian and Persian traditions. These are Court painting of Safavid Iran, Indigenous Indian devotional manuscript illumination and Indo-Persian or Sultanate Painting. Persian miniature paintings developed with Indian Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist with strong impact, refined latterly in the court of The Mughal Authority during 16th to 19th century, after that to alternative Indian Courts, the two Muslim and Hindu and next Sikh. Mughal Painting main themes are wildlife portraits, hunting scenes, battles, court scenes, legends. Mughal Paintings become existence during the mughal emperor, Humayun (1530-1540 & 1555-1556). When he came back to India from banishment, he carried two proficient Persian artists, Sayyid Ali & Abdus Samad, the art made by these artists bring influenced by the local styles and it started the Mughal Painting or Mughal Art of India. Famous Mughal Paintings of Humayun Time is “Tutinama (Tales of a Parrot)” which is in museum of Cleveland, Ohio (USA). Mughal Paintings are basically originated in Mughal Emperors such are Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. Aurangzeb (1658-1707) did not boost Mughal Paintings, but till now mughal paintings are so much famous therefore they did not lost its focus on fans. But the period of Shah Alam II (1719-1748) was not good for mughal paintings, in this period mughal paintings lost their glory. The affect is that other Indian Painting Schools were developed. Include Royal Courts of the Rajput Kingdoms of Rajputana. But today also these paintings are done in Jaipur, Rajashthan by a number of smaal artists in Mughal Style miniature paintings.
5. Mysore painting
Mysore Painting is an important and rich traditional art form of South India which started from town Mysore, Karnataka, India. The specific school of Mysore Painting emerges from the paintings of Vijayanagar times during the dynasty of the Vijayanagar Kings (1336-1565 AD). In this school pupils expert in drawing art like animal hunting, folk dances, war scenes, paintings.
Mysore ruled by many rulers in ancient history who passionate for visual arts including architecture and painting. Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 AD) had given an important opportunity to the several families of painters from the aim to redeem paintings. These painters also did gold work, painting temple cars, preparing banners or doll making. These painters make their own materials, colors obtained from minerals, vegetables, leaves, flowers and stones. Brushes made of squirrel hairs or special grass used for drawing superfine lines. Mainly epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata or Hindu Gods and Goddesses are basis of Mysore Traditional Paintings. Some important themes to painting are Shri Rama, Dashavatara, Laxmi, Saraswati, Durga etc. Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1780-1865 AD) was a great expert in field of art and provides extending support to dance, music, sculpture, painting and literature. Many traditional paintings of Mysore School has related to his era. Krishnaraja Wodeyar gives boost to the artists of Mysore School through his creation ‘Sritattvanidhi’ which Mysore Style was known as for many years. Jagan Mohan Palace, Mysore, Karnataka the portraits of historical Mysore rulers, family members and important personalities are seen on walls, through self portraits of artists which Krishna Wodeyar influence them to paint.
6. Pahari Painting
Pahari (Pahar means Mountain in India) Painting is style of miniature forms originated in Himalayan Hill Kingdoms of North India between 17th to 19th centuries. Pahari Painting style is made up of two notably different schools that are bold intense Basohli and delicate lyrical Kangra. In Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh (States of India) these pahari paintings are known as Rajput Paintings. Pahari paintings have many styles such as Basohli Painting, Chamba Paintings, Garhwal Paintings, Guler Kangra Paintings, Jammu Paintings, Kulu Paintings, Mankot Paintings and Mandi Paintings. Pahari School comes in existence during 17th to 19th centuries in the sub-Himalayan India. This started the new patois of Indian Painting, and become out of the Mughal Painting, still this was deigned mostly by the Rajput Kings (Rajput means son of a king, they ruled regions of India).
7. Pattachitra Paintings
Pattachitra is an Orissa (State of India) word but in sanskrit “patta means canvas or cloth and chitra means picture”. Pattachitra is traditional paintings of Orisa, India. These paintings featuring the old paintings of Kalinga Region dating back to the 5th century BC mainly found on religious areas that are Puri, Konark and Bhubaneshwar Region. These paintings chiefly covered Indian Mythology and Jagannath and Vaishnava Religion. These Pattachitra Paintings are painted in formal array of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna and Dashavatar of Vishnu. It is the one of the oldest and famous form of art in Orrisa. The themes of paintings are based on scenes from religious epics like Radha Krishna, Lord Jagannath, Vishnu based on ‘Gita Govinda’ of Jayadev, Ramayana, Mahabharata. There are different categories which have Pattachitra Painting based on like Jagannath Paintings, Vaishnav Paintings, Ramayana Paintings, Bhagabat Paintings, Shakta Paintings or more. In 16th century evolution of Bhakti Movement the paintings of Radha and Krishna were painted in spirited shades of orange, red and yellow. Artists used blue colors to paint Krishna and Pink color to paint gopis.
8. Rajput Painting
Rajput Paintings are also known as ‘Rajasthani Paintings’ which was started late 16th and early 17th century in royal courts of Rajashthan, India. It is miniature painting style related with the royal courts of the Rajputs (Son of a King), this style also found on the Rajput Forts, Rajput Havelis (Mansions), Shekhawati Havelis builted by Shekhawati Rajputs or Rajput Palaces. All Rajput kingdom make a separate style, but with assured common characteristics.
Rajput Paintings were traditional and Romantic. Rajput Paintings characterize a number of themes, affair/events of Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, romance, lovers, hunting, women, Krishna (Hindu Cowherd God) etc. Rajput Paintings are of two different types that are Rajasthani Style which related with the Rajput Courts in Rajasthan and Pahari Style related to the Rajput Courts of the Himalayan Foothills. In late 16th century Rajput Art Schools were open for develop special styles combining foreign styles with different styles. Rajput Paintings used colors which were obtained from plant sources, conch shells, minerals, beetle wings, or precious stones. Gold and silver were also used for paintings. To prepare these colors was a lengthy process sometimes it takes weeks, but brushes used very fine. Jitendra Sahoo is very famous artist of Rajput Painting. Four major Rajasthani Art Schools were:-
a) The Mewar School related with courts of Chavand, Nathdwara, Devgarh, Udaipur and Sawar.
b) The Marwar School related with Kishangarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali and Ghanerao.
c) The Hadoti School related with Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar.
d) The Dhundar School related with Amber, Jaipur, Shekhawati and Uniara.
9. Tanjore Painting
Tanjore Painting is a very rich art form of Tamil Nadu, South India from last two centuries. This art was founded in Thanjavur (Tanjore) city during 16th century of Nayakas and Marathas Invasion. Mostly tanjore painting theme is Hindu Gods and Goddesses and martyr done on solid wood planks called as Palagai Padam (Wooden Plank) in patois. Tanjore Paintings are inspired by music, literature and dance in both Telugu and Tamil. Tanjore Paintings are defining by rich, flat and strong colors. Thanjavur Paintings have impact of Vijayanagar, Maratha, Deccani and European style painting. There are more proofs of Tanjore Paintings that they were represent in other religions also such as Sikh, Jain, Muslim and Others. These paintings consummated on canvas, walls, glass, paper or wooden panel. Artist used natural colors from vegetables, minerals and from leaves. The British and Victoria and Albert Museum in United Kingdom have a big collection of Thanjavur Paintings. In India ‘Moochys or Indian Artists’ made these paintings said by Charles Gold in his book ‘Oriental Drawings’ in 1806. Thanjavur Paintings are continuing painted by artists in present era.
10. Warli Painting
Warli Paintings or Varlis Paintings have not final originated time but some signs tells that it come in existence from 10th century. Yashodhara Dalmia claimed in her book ‘The Painted World of theWarlis’ that their culture developed back to 2500 to 3000 BCE. Because of their paintings which are similar to the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, India in ancient time. These paintings are compared to the popular paintings of Madhubani Paintings, Bihar. Warli are Adivasis (Endemic/Indegenous tribe) living in marginal areas of Maharashtra –Gujarat (Indian States) border in and around areas. Warli Paintings are ancestral wall paintings of the Varli Society of Maharashtra. Warli Society peoples have their own rules, life, traditions, and beliefs. Warli Peoples speak Varli language. Warli Paintings expressed normal life images but also show scenes like hunting, dancing and harvesting scenes. Bamboo Stick is used for warli painting and only paste of rice powered with gum is used for white color in paintings.
Conclusion
After paying tribute to the Indian Paintings of Indian History, it was now time to honor our budding ‘Painters’. Therefore we should make thanks to the Painters who give beautiful paintings to the country.
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