Contemporary Modern Indian Paintings
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, as Indian painting evolved, there was a perceptible shift from the traditional miniature painting styles towards newer forms of artistic expression.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Bazaar style was a response to changing socio-economic conditions during the British colonial period. A renowned artist from this era – Raja Ravi Varma captured the essence of everyday life in marketplaces. Artists like A.C. Smith and Thomas Daniell reflected the infusion of European artistic techniques into the Indian art scene during the colonial period.
The Bengal School of Painting, also known as the Revivalist School or the Renaissance School, maintained its dominance during this period under the influential leadership of Abanindranath Tagore. Embracing a romantic and nostalgic aesthetic, the Bengal School aimed to revive and reinterpret the traditional Indian art of miniature painting.
These transitional styles laid the groundwork for the diverse and dynamic forms of modern Indian art that would later emerge in the 20th century.
Indian Paintings and their Types
Meta Description – Indian paintings are a testament to the country’s rich cultural heritage, religious diversity, and artistic evolution. Indian paintings can be classified into prehistoric paintings, mural paintings, folk paintings, miniature paintings and modern paintings.
Indian paintings have a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. It reflects the country’s cultural, religious, and social evolution. The roots of Indian painting can be traced back to prehistoric times (around 30,000 years old), with evidence of cave paintings in places like Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh. As civilization progressed, the religious and philosophical ideas of India began to find expression in its art. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism played prominent roles in shaping the themes of Indian paintings. The frescoes of Ajanta and Ellora Caves, dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 7th century CE, are the finest examples of early Indian art.
In this article, we have covered all the important information on Indian paintings and their types, tracing their evolution across the Indian subcontinent.