Nitin Singhania Summary: Indian Paintings- 2 | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Pichhwai Painting

• Traditional Indian art with origins in Rajasthan, mainly Nathdwara.
• Features intricate paintings portraying Lord Krishna (Sreenath ji) under Vaishnavism.
• Primarily made for Hindu temples of the Pushtimarg Sampradaya, depicting tales of Lord Krishna.
• Nathdwara is a major exporter of Pichhwai paintings.

Madhubani Painting

• Traditionally done by women in villages around Madhubani town in Bihar.
• Also known as Mithila Paintings, mentioned in the Ramayana.
• Common themes include religious deities like Krishna, Rama, Durga, Lakshmi, and Shiva.
• Figures in the paintings are symbolic, incorporating elements like fish for good luck and fertility.
• Originally on walls with rice paste and vegetable colors, later transitioned to paper, cloth, and canvas.

Madhubani Paintings

Pattachitra Painting

• Traditional painting of Odisha, with "patta" meaning canvas and "chitra" meaning picture.
• Uses cloth as a base, with colors from natural sources like burnt coconut shells and vegetable dyes.
• No pencil or charcoal; outlines drawn with a bamboo pen wound with cloth.
• Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam are main centers with distinct styles.

Kalighat Painting

• Originated near the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata in the 19th century.
• Hand-colored cloth paintings depicting Hindu Gods, Goddesses, and scenes from epics.
• Evolved to capture daily life in simple drawings, influencing painters like Jamini Roy.

Kalighat Temple

Warli Painting

• Originated from the Warli people in the Sahyadris, mainly on the Gujarat-Maharashtra border.
• Ritualistic paintings on walls with basic graphic vocabulary.
• Central motifs include chaukat, surrounded by scenes of fishing, hunting, farming, and festivals.
• Typically done by women for auspicious occasions.

Thangka Painting

• Practiced in Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Originally used for reverence in Buddhism, made by Buddhist monks and specific ethnic groups.
• Painted on a cotton canvas base with natural vegetable or mineral dyes.
• Each color has symbolic significance in depicting Buddhist ideals.

Thangka Painting

Manjusha Painting

• Belongs to the Bhagalpur region of Bihar, also known as Angika art.
• Executed on boxes of jute and paper, often referred to as snake paintings.
• Typically depicts religious and spiritual themes.

Paitkar Painting

• Practiced by tribal people in Jharkhand, considered one of the ancient forms of painting.
• Cultural association with Maa Manasa, a popular goddess in tribal households.
• Linked to social and religious customs, often exploring the theme of life after death.

Gond Painting

Gond Painting

• Practiced by tribal people in Madhya Pradesh for almost 1400 years.
• Natural elements are painted as a form of respect and reverence in line with Gond belief system.

Santhal Painting

• Drawn by a community called Jadu Patua in the Santhal tribal belts of Bengal/Bihar borders.
• Uninfluenced by Mughals, Rajput, or British, resulting in original and authentic designs.
• Uses handmade paper backed by canvas cloth, with natural vegetable colors.