Indian Art and Architecture | Class 11 Knowledge Traditions Practices of India Notes

PAINTING TRADITIONS

Painting, or Citrakalā, is one of the earliest and most widespread forms of human artistic expression in India, evolving over millennia. Paintings require a surface, which could be walls, floors, ceilings, leaves, human or animal bodies, paper, or canvas. Indian painting traditions have progressed from crude cave walls to sophisticated digital art.

Earliest paintings are found in rock shelters across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Bihar. The richest examples, dating back around 10,000 years, come from the Vindhya ranges and their extensions. These Paleolithic and Mesolithic paintings depict human and animal figures, geometric patterns in white, black, and red ochre. Human figures are often stick-like, with motifs such as hand-linked dancing figures, wavy lines, rectangles, and dots. At many sites, newer paintings overlay older ones, with Bhimbetka showing up to 20 layers.

Neolithic humans in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh painted granite rocks with themes ranging from daily life, hunting, dancing, music, animal fights, honey collection, to body decoration. Bhimbetka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, is a prime example where mineral-origin colours have survived on inner cave walls.

Mural painting traditions began around the 2nd century B.C.E., with notable sites like Ajanta and Ellora in Maharashtra, Bagh in Madhya Pradesh, and Panamalai and Sittanavasal in Tamil Nadu. Ajanta caves, with 29 caitya and vihāra caves, feature sculptures and paintings from the 1st century B.C.E. to the 5th century C.E., depicting Buddha and Jātaka tales. Paintings show rhythmic lines, volume through merged body colour and outlines, and heavy figures akin to sculptures.

Bagh caves, carved during the Satvahana period, have Buddhist murals on sandstone rock faces. Vishnu cave in Badami (6th century C.E.) shows palace scenes, extending Ajanta's mural tradition into South India.

Under Pallava, Pandya, and Chola kings, mural painting flourished in Tamil Nadu, with examples in Panamalai, Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram, Sittanavasal Jain monastery, Tirumalaipuram caves, and Chola temples like Brihadeswara. These murals depict religious narratives, celestial dancers, and royal portraits. Traditional mural painting continues in villages across India, including Pithoro, Mithila, and Warli paintings.

📊 Diagram: Hunting Scene, Prehistoric Painting, Bhimbetka; INDIAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE; What are the criteria to declare the World Heritage sites according to the UNESCO? Find out the details at the website: https://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/and prepare a list of such sites in India. Yo

🧪 Activity: Students can research UNESCO World Heritage criteria and prepare a list of Indian sites designated as such, many of which are discussed in this chapter.

🔗 Connection: Leads to detailed discussion on Palm Leaf Manuscript Painting and other forms of painting traditions.