Indian Paintings

Indian Paintings are an integral form of the Indian Art that has been practiced since times unknown. Indian Painting is the area which is most widely referred to while talking about the Indian Art and Culture. The Indian Paintings can be primarily classified into two types:

1. Miniature Paintings: these types of paintings are basically done on materials like cloths and paper. Mughal and Rajasthani miniature paintings are the most famous and popular in this class of painting
2. Mural Paintings: These are the paintings that one gets to see on the walls of many Indian temples and caves. The Kalisantha Temple and the Ajanta temple stand as the prime example of this type of painting.

Indian Paintings can be dated back to the pre-historic times where one can witness tribal form of painting which are reflexive of the tribe that existed in each part of the country. Till date, Indian Paintings have been practiced on the impression and influence of the ancient paintings. The main forms of paintings practiced in India are as follows:

1. Madhubani Paintings:this style of painting is practiced in Bihar and is said to have evolved in the era of the Ramayana.
2. Mughal Paintings: These kinds of paintings are mostly seen in miniature forms. This type of painting evolved during the rule of the Mughal Kingdom in India in between the 16th and the 19th century. Mughal Painting bears the brightness and liveliness of Islamic, Persian and Indian style of paintings.
3. Indian Cave Paintings: Indian Cave paintings can be held as the primarily form of arts that started. Cave paintings are generally seen to have depiction of daily life on the cave walls. The paintings found in this style generally represent daily lives of the ancient people and the era.
4. Rajput Paintings: This style of painting evolved during the Rajputana reign in India. Rajput painting was practiced in various forms by several rulers of the different states but there were some commonalities in them. In general, the Rajput painting style bears the events from the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana along with depiction of the life of Lord Krishna, beautiful sceneries and landscape and human motifs also formed the subject of Rajput Paintings. Rajput Paintings can be seen in both miniature and mural form. Bright colours, gold, silver and semi precious stones were used in Rajput Paintings.

Along with the painting styles mentioned above there are a few more that are practiced in India even today. Mysore Paintings, Tanjore Paintings, Bengal Paintings and Modern Indian painting definitely share a prominent stage in the filed of Indian Paintings and arts.