Indian Art History

Indian art history
Ancient Period
Archaeologists have found evidence of prehistoric rock art in India, an early art form
consisting of carvings or drawings on cave rocks. The oldest examples are the Bhimbetka
petroglyphs found in central India and believed to be at least 290,000 years old. Rock art
continued to be created as cave paintings, representing animals and humans. The oldest
examples of these paintings date from about 7000 BCE.
Indus Valley Art

From the 2nd Century B.C., the Indus Valley Civilisation flourished in the northwest area of
the country, which is Pakistan to the present date. The evolution towards a sophisticated and
civilised culture happened in the Harappan period. Roughly dating somewhere from 3200-
1200, the history of Indian Art during the Indus Valley civilisation is observed to be
influenced by the advancements that happened in Science and Culture. The artistic expression
of this period can be traced back to Rock paintings and Temple Arts. The people of the Indus
valley civilization produced the earliest known Indian art sculptures, from between 2500 and
1800 BCE. They were small terracotta and bronze figures depicting animals and humans, like
cows, monkeys, and dancing positions.
Buddhism and Hinduism Influenced Art

Buddhism originated in India at some point in the 6th century BCE. Religious artists made
sculpture pieces, including stone and bronze. They also produced magnificent examples of
Indian cave art, with entire temples being carved in stone and decorated with Greek-
influenced columns and sculptures. By the 5th century CE, the sculpture was a common
practice among Indian Buddhists and Hindus. Hinduism continued to be the focus of art
creation for centuries, sculptures of Shiva and other deities, and huge stone temples like the
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, built in the 11th century in northern India.
Islamic Influence
In the 12th century, there was a gradual Muslim conquest in India with the establishment of
various Islamic States during that time. Islam gradually gained importance in India and under
the Mughal Empire, established in the 16th century. The beautiful influence of Islamic
culture came with the invasion of Mughals and other Islamic rulers. With Mughals rule
during the 16th century- mid 19th century, changed the entire complexion of the country
leaving a lasting impression on India’s Culture, Clothing and especially in Indian Art and
Paintings. Their influence can be traced to the architecture and monuments built by them
during that time like the Taj Mahal.
Colonial Era
A defining moment in the History of Indian Art, which came during the western influence on
the country’s heritage, was with the arrival of Vasco da Gama at the end of the 15th century,
who established a direct link with India for trade. Slowly and gradually during the 17th
century, France, Netherlands and Denmark and England began facilitating trade with India.
With the fall of Maratha rule in the 18th century, European countries started entering India
from its different regions. The British power expanded with the defeat of Tipu Sultan and by
the mid-19th century, the country find itself covered under the British Empire’s governance.
The western and European influence on India during that time is something that can be
experienced in Indian’s culture and art even today. This resulted in local artistic traditions
merging with foreign influences. A romanticized Indian style developed, which exaggerated
traditional ornaments to please the European buyers.
The Independence Era
India became independent on 15th August 1947, after decades of British rule. With raging
world wars, invasion, oppression, struggle, independence and evolution of culture, the
country went through a long period of struggle and these aspects have impacted the history of
Indian art and culture to a very great extent.
History of Indian Art: Styles

Traditional Indian Art consists of religious characters (Gods and Idols) in Hinduism, Islam,
and Buddhism which have been a common theme throughout centuries. Sculptures and cave
paintings found in ancient times mainly featured human, mythological, elaborated ornaments
and animals forms. In the medieval period, Islam as well as the Indian art didn’t relinquish
figural representations. Each style of art is unique in its own way and greatly admirable.
Traditionally, these art styles existed only in wall paintings or murals. But today, they are
also found in canvas, paper, cloth, etc. Here is a list of different Indian art styles, some still in
practice and others not.
Madhubani Painting
This art is also known as Mithila art, and it originated in the kingdom of Janak in Nepal and
in present-day Bihar. This art form was not known to the rest of the world until the 1930s
when it was discovered after an earthquake. Mostly practised by women, these paintings or
wall murals depict gods, fauna and flora. Characterised by geometric patterns, this art form is
greatly admired for its evocative portrayal of traditions and cultures.
Warli Painting
This form of art dates back to 2500 BCE, and it was practised by the Warli tribes belonging
to Thane and Nasik in Maharashtra. These paintings mostly illustrate the nature and social
rituals of the tribe. It portrays daily activities like farming, praying, dancing, hunting, etc.
Geometrical patterns in white against a yellow or red background are some of the main
themes. Warli paintings were usually made by married women to celebrate a wedding, and
they were also used to decorate huts of the Warli tribes.
Miniature Painting
The miniature paintings illustrate a combination of Indian, Islamic and Persian art styles. This
art form dates back to the 16th century, and the themes are usually centred on battles, court
scenes, portraits, wildlife, receptions, hunting scenes, legendary stories etc. Natural stone
colours are used in a paper-based “wasli” for the creation of these paintings. The miniature
paintings have developed into several distinct schools of miniature like Mughal, Rajasthan,
Deccan, Kangra, Malwa, Pahadi, etc.
Kalamkari
Having a strong connection to Persian motifs, this art has been in practice for more than 3000
years. Kalamkari derives its name from kalam or pen, and it means ‘drawings with a pen’.
This organic art of hand and block printing has survived generations in Andhra Pradesh.
Kalamkari art involves earthy colours like green, rust, indigo, mustard and black. Today this
art is used in ethnic clothing and depicts anything from fauna and flora to epics such as
Mahabharata or Ramayana.
Tanjore Painting
First painted in the 16th century under the Chola regime, this painting originated in the
Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. It is known for its magnificent embellishments, vibrant
colours and rich surfaces. The themes are mainly centred on the Hindu gods and goddesses.
These paintings are made on wooden planks, and the main subjects are always painted in the
centre. The styles of this painting are similar to that of the Deccani and Maratha art, as well
as to the European styles.
Pattachitra
Pattachitra art forms date back to 5th century and originated in Odisha and West Bengal.
These cloth-based scroll paintings have a heavy influence of the Mughal era. Admired by art
lovers, the Pattachitra paintings are dedicated to religious and mythological themes. The
painters mainly use bright colours like red, black, indigo, yellow and white in this type of
painting. From palm leaves to silks, this art form has gained recognition and is practiced even
today.
Gond Painting
A native art form of Madhya Pradesh, Gond paintings are mostly themed on animals and
birds. Practised by the Gond tribes, this art form is believed to be 1400 years old. Natural
colours derived from plant sap, charcoal, coloured soil, cow dung, leaves, etc. are used to
make this type of paintings. This simple art form created with dots and lines were made as an
offering to Mother Nature in earlier days.
Kalighat Painting
This form of painting originated in the 19th century in Bengal. These paintings were made on
cloth or patas and often depicted images of gods, goddesses and scenes from epics. This
simple yet captivating form of art became popular due to their way of capturing the everyday
lives beautifully. The seamless, free-flowing outline is a unique feature of the Kalighat
paintings. This style of paintings has been an inspiration to many artists since their creation.
Phad
Dating back to thousands of years, Phad is a narrative scroll painting tradition which
originated in Rajasthan. Red, yellow and orange colours are mostly used in this type of art to
paint stories of local deities and heroes. The depictions are usually of battlefield scenes,
adventure stories, legendary romances, etc. The beauty of these paintings lies in the fact that
many stories are accommodated in a single composition.
Cheriyal Scrolls
This form of art originated in present-day Telangana and has been practised by the Nakashi
family through generations. The Kalamkari art influenced the creation of the Cheriyal scrolls.
The scrolls are generally 40–45 feet in length, and the themes are mainly centred on Indian
mythology and folk traditions. These types of paintings are made with bright hues, with red
as a dominating background. The colours are extracted from natural sources by the artists,
and the brushes are made with squirrel hair.

Indian Art History

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Indian Art History

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Indian art history

Indus Valley Art

Buddhism and Hinduism Influenced Art

History of Indian Art: Styles

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