PAINTINGS IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION
The art of painting in India has a very long and continuous tradition dating back to the Stone Age. Early humans used natural colours to depict daily life on cave walls. Chitra Sutra, a part of Vishnu Dharmottara Purana, is regarded as the oldest known text on painting in the world. Literary references to paintings are also found in texts like Mudrarakshasa by Vishakadatta. Among surviving examples, Ajanta cave paintings are the most significant.

SIX LIMBS (SHADANGA) OF INDIAN PAINTINGS
• Emerged in 1st century BC, explained by Vatsyayana in Kamasutra
• Rupabheda – Knowledge of appearances
• Sadrisyan – Likeness of the subject
• Bhava – Expression of emotions
• Lavanyayoganam – Grace and aesthetic beauty
• Pramanam – Correct proportion and measurement
• Varnikabhanga – Artistic use of colours and brush

PREHISTORIC PAINTINGS
• Subjects: human figures, animals, hunting scenes, geometric symbols
• First discovered in India by Archibold Carlleyle (1867–68)
• Found in MP, UP, AP, Karnataka and Uttarakhand
• Rock engravings are called petroglyphs

Lakhudiyar Cave Paintings (Uttarakhand)
• Located on banks of river Suyal
• Earliest paintings in black, later red and white
• Stick-like human figures, animals like fox, lizard

Upper Palaeolithic Period
• Use of minerals like ochre mixed with lime
• Red used for hunters, green for dancers
• Large animals such as bison, elephants, tigers
• Rich examples from Vindhya ranges and Bhimbetka

Mesolithic Period
• Largest number of prehistoric paintings
• Smaller size but greater variety
• Themes: hunting, dancing, honey collection, grinding grain
• Humans stylised, animals naturalistic
• Sites: Bhimbetka, Langhnaj, Adamgarh, Sanganakallu

Chalcolithic Period
• Contact with agricultural communities
• Motifs: pottery designs, lattices, spirals
• Use of green and yellow
• Sites: Jogimara, Chitwa Dongri, Limdariha

BHIMBETKA ROCK PAINTINGS
• Located in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh
• Discovered by Dr. Vishnu Wakankar
• Around 400 paintings
• Periods: Upper Palaeolithic to Medieval
• UNESCO World Heritage Site (2003)
• Themes: hunting, war, dance, animals

PAINTINGS OF HISTORIC PERIODS
Harappan Paintings
• Painted on pottery
• Black colour
• Geometric designs, animals, pictographic symbols

Vedic Period Paintings
• Painted on grey pottery
• Blue colour
• Floral and geometric designs

Gupta Period Paintings
• Formal training to painters
• Best examples at Ajanta and Bagh caves

MURAL PAINTINGS
• Painted on walls or solid surfaces
• Period: 2nd century BC to 10th century AD

Ajanta Cave Paintings
• Period: 1st century BCE to 5th century CE
• Based on Jataka tales
• Use of vegetable and mineral dyes
• Famous paintings: Padmapani, Vajrapani, Dying Princess

Ellora Cave Paintings
• Found mainly in Kailasha temple
• Themes: Buddha, Shiva, Vishnu
• White, green and brown colours

Bagh Cave Paintings
• Located in Dhar district, MP
• Similar to Ajanta style
• Buddhist themes

Chola Murals
• Initiated by Mahendravarman I
• Shiva-centric themes
• Examples: Brihadeshwara Temple

Vijayanagara Murals
• Found at Hampi
• Events from Ramayana, Mahabharata
• Two-dimensional style

ANCIENT ROCK PAINTINGS
• Armamalai – Tamil Nadu (Jain themes)
• Sittannavasal – Jain paintings
• Ravan Chhaya – Odisha (royal procession)
• Lepakshi – Andhra Pradesh
• Jogimara – Chhattisgarh

MINIATURE PAINTINGS
• Size less than 25 square inches
• Side profile figures
• Bulging eyes, pointed nose

Pala School
• Buddhist manuscripts
• Palm leaf medium
• Vajrayana themes

Apabhramsa School
• Jain themes
• Red, yellow, ochre colours
• Kalpasutra manuscripts

Delhi Sultanate Miniatures
• Persian influence
• Illustrated manuscripts

Mughal Miniature Paintings
• Shift from religious to court themes
• Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan patronage
• Famous painters: Basawan, Daswant, Mansur

REGIONAL SCHOOLS
Rajasthani School – bold colours, folk themes
Mewar School – bright colours, emotional appeal
Kishangarh School – Bani Thani, elongated faces
Bundi School – Krishna themes
Malwa School – flat compositions
Pahari School – romantic and devotional themes

SOUTH INDIAN MINIATURES
• Tanjore – use of gold foil and glass
• Mysore – gesso technique

FOLK PAINTINGS
• Madhubani – Bihar
• Pattachitra – Odisha
• Kalamkari – Andhra Pradesh
• Warli – Maharashtra
• Thangka – Sikkim
• Manjusha – Bihar
 

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Subject: Art and Culture

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