Principal of Indian Paintings
The regional diversity reflected in Indian paintings is a testament to the country’s cultural richness. Vatsyayana, an ancient Indian philosopher, mentioned the six major principles, shadganas, and limbs of Indian painting in his famous book “Kamasutra”. These principles serve as a guide for artists, providing a framework for them to express their creativity. They are given as follows:
- Rupabheda: Numerous types of forms
- Lavanyayoganam: immersion of emotions
- Varnikabhanga: Blending of colours to create the effects of modelling
- Pramanam: The proportion of the object or subject
- Sadrisyan: The portrayal of the subject’s likelihood:
- Bhava: Depiction of emotions and expressions in a painting
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.