There is no denial to the fact that India is a land of rich culture and heritage. Each part of this land breathes a distinct set of culture and value. Such kind of diversity is hard to find anywhere else. It won’t be wrong to say that Indian soil holds the greatest treasures of varied art forms. The thing which demands appreciation over here is that these art forms have been preserved by people over the period of time and they haven’t let the essence of art leave their souls.
There are various kinds of Indian art forms which have successfully survived the blow of time. One such art form is the Indian paintings. The world of Indian paintings is adorning many feathers in its cap and some of the gems are existed since more than a thousand years! The introduction of all the various genres of art has been adapted by the Indian society but some of its gems are still pure in their existence as they have remained untouched by all the glitz and glam of modernisation. Here is a sneak-peek at those ancient Indian paintings methods which are continuing to mesmerise its viewers even in today’s times.
- Pattachitra:
Pattachitra is one of the oldest (more than ten centuries old) and most renowned art forms from the Indian state of Odisha. If you look at the literal meaning by breaking down the term into two, then “Patta” means canvas and “chitra” translates to picture. The Indian paintings belonging to this genre are vividly bright in colours and provide strong depiction to mythological figures. One can also witness beautiful motifs and superior designs being used which elevate the entire look of these paintings. The first step of this painting starts with designing the patta which is created by making a tamarind paste called niryas kalpa. This paste is utilised in the process of holding two cloth pieces together and then coating them with a granulated form of clay stone that helps in making it firm. When the cloth gets dried, it is polished and then the paints are prepared to paint. As mentioned earlier as well, artists prefer to use natural colours in brighter hues. - Mysore Paintings:
This form of Indian paintings has its roots from the southern part of India and its origin can be traced back to the era of Ajanta (2nd century BC). Mysore paintings are recognised by their bright colours and gesso work which relates to the Hindu mythology. The main intention of these paintings is to instil a feeling of humility and devotion into the hearts of its spectators. This art form draws strong inspirations from the Hindu Gods and Goddesses who are represented in various forms and scenes. If you have a glance at gesso work then it is more intricate and elaborate in Mysore paintings in comparison to Tanjore paintings. Gesso is basically a mixture comprising of three elements namely, white lead powder, glue and gambose. These are then utilised as an embossing material and are later on are covered with gold foil to create that rich and grand effect. - Cheriyal Paintings:
It wouldn’t be wrong to state that Cheriyal scroll painting is a formalised and improvised style of Nakashi art. This beautiful and traditional form of Indian paintings is used to depict stories of ancient Indian mythology and folklore. Usually the scroll runs 40 to 45 feet in length and is made out of khadi with a mixture of other elements like rice starch, tamarind, etc. Just like most of the other Indian art forms, Cheriyal paintings are also created in bright shades with red running as a dominant colour in the background. Only herbal items, coming from natural sources, are used to create the magnificent art. - Gond Paintings:
Gond paintings are an art form of one of the largest tribes of Madhya Pradesh and its surrounding states, Gonds. History stands witness to the magnificent artworks of Gonds on the walls of their houses which depicted the flora and fauna along with their Gods and Goddesses. Mostly these paintings were created on special occasions like Diwali and Ashtami. Made from all natural products, these paintings successfully capture the essence of celebrations and other rituals.
There are so many forms of enthralling Indian paintings which are prevalent in today’s world. However, these four are one of the oldest forms which haven’t lost their beauty and are still enthralling its audiences.
