Indian Paintings: From Pre-historic to Modern Times

The tradition of painting in India is incredibly profound and diverse, spanning thousands of years from the pre-historic murals to the modern avant-garde movements. This evolution can be broadly classified into Mural Paintings (executed on walls or solid structures) and Miniature Paintings (small-scale works done on perishable materials like paper, cloth, or palm leaves).

1. Mural Paintings in India

Mural painting refers to artwork directly rendered on the wall, ceiling, or any other large permanent surface.

• Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra): The murals at Ajanta strictly follow Buddhist themes (Jataka tales showing previous lives of the Buddha). Prominent paintings include the Padmapani and Vajrapani Bodhisattvas.
• Ellora Caves (Maharashtra): Features Brahmanical (Hindu), Buddhist, and Jain themes. The paintings often display sharp features and protruding eyes, marking a transition towards the medieval style.
• Bagh Caves (Madhya Pradesh): Secular in nature, though influenced by Buddhism. They depict the contemporary lifestyle of the Gupta period.
• Sittanavasal Caves (Tamil Nadu): Jain murals from the Pandya period. Famous for the lotus pool painting.
• Lepakshi Temple Murals (Andhra Pradesh): Belonging to the Vijayanagara period, these are completely absent of primary colors and characterized by a two-dimensional look.

2. Miniature Paintings

Miniature paintings are highly detailed small-scale artworks executed predominantly on paper, palm leaves, cloth, or ivory.

A. The Pala and Apabhramsa Schools

• Pala School: Earliest examples on palm leaves primarily depicting Buddhist themes.
• Apabhramsa School: Patronized by Jain merchants in Gujarat. Hallmarks include bulging eyes, pointed noses, pinched waists.

B. Mughal Miniature Painting

A synthesis of Persian (Safavid) and indigenous Indian styles.

• Akbar's Era: Famous for illustrating epic manuscripts like the Tutinama, Hamzanama, and Razmnama.
• Jahangir's Era: The zenith of Mughal painting. Focus on flora and fauna (Ustad Mansur).
• Shah Jahan's Era: Highly rigid, formal court scenes with heavy use of gold.

C. Rajput / Rajasthani Painting

Rooted deeply in Hindu mythology (Krishna Leela, Ramayana).

• Mewar School: Vibrant reds and yellows (Sahibdin).
• Kishangarh School: Highly stylized, elongated facial features. Famous for Bani Thani (the Indian Mona Lisa) by Nihal Chand.
• Bundi and Kota Schools: Famous for depictions of hunting (Shikar) scenes.

D. Pahari Miniature Painting

• Basohli School: Bold vitality and intense colors.
• Kangra School: Delicate lines and ethereal depiction of female figures and Radha-Krishna themes.

3. Notable Regional and Folk Paintings

• Madhubani (Bihar): Done by women. No empty space is left (horror vacui).
• Pattachitra (Odisha): Painted on cloth canvas (Patta) deeply tied to the Jagannath cult.
• Warli Painting (Maharashtra): Uses basic geometric shapes (white pigment on a mud base) highlighting daily tribal life.
• Kalighat Painting (Bengal): Bold sweeping brushstrokes satirizing modern urban life.
• Tanjore Painting (Tamil Nadu): Extensive use of gold foil and semi-precious stones to decorate deities.

4. Modern Indian Painting

• Company Style: Hybrid of Indian elements and Western techniques (watercolors).
• Raja Ravi Varma: Fused Western academic realism with Indian mythological themes.
• Bengal School of Art: Nationalist movement led by Abanindranath Tagore (Masterpiece: Bharat Mata).
• Progressive Artists' Group: F.N. Souza, M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza representing modern abstract expressionism.