Indian Art Paintings

The term Indian art paintings conjures up a whole myriad of different images. In fact, the term Indian art covers huge range of different art forms all coming from India and all unique in their own ways. This article covers some of the more popular forms of paintings in India from Madhubani Paintings, Mughal Paintings, Phad Paintings and miniature paintings. India's art culture has it's roots in thousands of years of evolution; the hugely varied cultures, ethnic groups, languages and religions from all over India have created what is now one of the most diverse and unique collections of paintings and styles of paintings of any nation on earth.

Here are just a handful of the thousands of different Indian art paintings styles from around the country.

Madhubani Paintings

Otherwise known as Mithila art, Madhuban paintings come from the region of Mithila in India and originated in a small town. Origionally the madhuban Indian art paintings where painted onto the side of the mud huts of the women artists but the now the term is used to represent a whole range of art in a similar style done on canvas, linen and paper. The materials used for the paintings where all completely natural and usually consisted of plant extract taken from the local environment. The paintings themselves often represent various symbols, most notably symbols of fertility, love and prosperity and are painted on a large scale in a brightly coloured 3D images.

Mughal paintings

perhaps some of the most famous of all of the art in India is the paintings dating to the Mughal era in India, around the 17th century when the people known as the Mughals controlled huge swathes of the land. The period also brought with it a vast revolution of architecture in India. The style itself is now most commonly known as miniature paintings and the art from has a strong following especially in the desert regions of India like Rajasthan and Akbar.

Phad paintings

Again originating from the wonderful land of kings, Rajasthan, Phad paintings are traditionally done on linen and is no where near a dying art form with artists and studios keeping the form alive to this day. The main content of this fantasticaly bright and vivid form of Indian art paintings is usually that of gods and various scenes from religious scriptures although throughout the ages the art form has been used to represent many famous philosophers, kings and other great leaders.

Kangra Paintings

Again originating in the Mughal era in India is the Kangra paintings, another style of Minature paintings in India but considered by many to be less enticing to the eye. The art form differs from the Mughal miniatures in a sense that the colours are less vivid and the scene usually less complicated. In my mind however the images depicted are no less beautiful. The artists who paint these kangra images use a very natural style with calming colours and relaxing images.

These four different styles of Indian paintings are some of the more well known art forms in India but as I previously mentioned but there are actually hundreds, and that's just the paintings, Indian art is a whole world waiting to be discovered!

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