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The cultual heritage of India in the field of painting is very rich.The first and the most creative period of the art of painting extends from the first to the 7th centuaries of the Christian era.Of this the richest hertiage is that of the Ajanta paintings.Many murals which once decorated the walls of the Ajanta caves have disappeared due to neglect and the ravages of time.The paintings of Ajanta depict various themes.There are those which depict the pomp and splendour of the royal courts and the romance of love and the joy of feasting,singing and dancing and the manmade world with luxurious products,building,textiles and jewellery. Some depict the world of nature –vegetation and flowers,animals and birds.Many themes depicted are from the Buddha’s life and the jataka stories.All the scenes depicted are full of vitality.
In northern India the frescoes at Bagh are the best survivals.The tradition of painting continued for some time in other parts of India at Badami,Kanchi and Ellora.It later spread to Sri Lanka where the beautiful frescoes at Sigriya seem to be directly related to the traditions of Ajanta. The art of wall painting died though the art of book illumination continued particulrly in Jain texts.
The next great era in the art of painting was ushered in by the Mughals.The Mughals brought with them the traditions of Persian painting.Humayun brought with him two pupils of the grea painter Behzad who came into contact with their counterparts in India.Under Akbar the synthesis of the two styles was encouraged.He gathered together a number of painters from Persia,Kashmir and Gujarat.Jahangir was a great connoisseur and patron of painting.Under him the Mughal school of Painting was fully developed and made remarakable progress.The development continued under Shah Jahan.Dara Shikoh son of Shah Jahan was a great patron of paintings .With Aurangzeb the art declined in the Mughal courts. Many artists went to different parts of the country and influenced the development of new schools of painting.
During the colonial era, Western influences started to make an impact on Indian art. Some artists developed a style that used Western ideas of composition, perspective and realism to illustrate Indian themes. Others, like Jamini Roy consciously drew inspiration from folk art.By the time of Independence in 1947, several schools of art in India provided access to modern techniques and ideas. Galleries were established to showcase these artists.
Modern Indian art typically shows the influence of Western styles, but is often inspired by Indian themes and images. Major artists are beginning to gain international recognition, initially among the Indian diaspora, but also among non-Indian audiences.The Progressive Artist's Group, established shortly after India became independent in 1947, was intended to establish new ways of expressing India in the post-colonial era. The founders were six eminent artists - K. H. Ara, S. K. Bakre, H. A. Gade, M.F Husain,S.H Raza and F.N Souza . Though the group was dissolved in 1956, it was profoundly influential in changing the idiom of Indian art. Almost all India's major artists in the 1950s were associated with the group. Some of those who are well-known today are Bal Chabda, V.S Gaitonde, Krishen Khanna,Ram Kumar,Tyeb Mehta and Akbar Padamsee. Other famous painters like Prokash Karmakar, and Bijon Choudhuri enriched the art culture of India.
Architecture | Art | Paintings | Modern Indian Paintings
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