Evolution of Madhubani painting

Indian art history has given a rich storage of traditional painting in Indian Subcontinent from prehistory to present time. The style of painting differs from region to region and period to period. There is a living tradition in the art field of Bihar that is called Madhubani painting which enlightened about the social structure as well as cultural identity of Bihar and the styles of painting has been changing from generation to generation. Even though this art is centuries old, it has preserved its original style and content in its native land of Mithila.

Madhubani, or Mithila, painting is a folk painting of northern India. It is mostly practiced by women in the villages who have passed this art to their daughters through multiple generations. They paint pictures of nature and mythology to depict different events like birth, marriage, and cycles of life. Though this folk-art has been practiced for centuries it started to gain national recognition only in the last few decades. Now, art patrons can find Madhubani artists in several cities of northern India, many of whom are experimenting and adapting the traditional styles to modern ethos and medium.

The attributes characterizing almost all Madhubani drawing

• Use of bold natural and artificial colors.
• A double line border with simple geometric designs or with ornate floral patterns on it.
• Symbols, lines and patterns supporting the main theme.
• Abstract like figures, of deities or human.
• The faces of the figures have large bulging eyes and a jointing nose emerging out of the forehead.

A variety of inventive patterns are made with hatching and stippling in Madhubani painting. Even now during birth and marriage ceremonies paintings are made on walls with different symbols like bamboo (lineage,) lotus, and fish. The designs announce the occasion of the celebration and solicit good fortune and divine blessings.

Explore the folk-art of India

We all known that the term ‘art’ means a creative expression of artist, which has communicated and attracted all general people in all ages and all times. folk-art is a branch of art, which has verbally transmitted and developed in folk-groups and in folk societies, In India, it's generally formed by the illiterate or semi-illiterate village people. It is true that they are very poor in economic condition and do not have any modern technological concept of culture. But the general concept of art has existed in their blood.

Glimpse of traditional art

India had always been known as the land that portrayed cultural and traditional vibrancy through its conventional arts and crafts. The 35 states and union territories sprawled across the country have their own distinct cultural and traditional identities, and are displayed through various forms of art. The rural folk paintings of India bear distinctive colorful designs, which are treated with religious and mystical motifs. Some of the most famous folk paintings of India are the Madhubani paintings of Bihar, Patachitra paintings from the state of Odisha, the Nirmal paintings of Andhra Pradesh, Kalighat Patachitra paintings from Bengal and other such folk-art forms.

Particularly in the case of Patachitra we may observed that this type of folk-art is ethnic in nature and in form it is very colorful, and also it bears traditional and cultural element of country's rich heritage.

Some of the famous Tribal Paintings of India

• Tanjore Art
• Madhubani Painting
• Rajasthani Miniature Painting
• Warli Folk Painting
• Pattachitra Painting
• Kalamezhuthu