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We with our Western background know next to nothing about Indian painting. The Indian art we are most familar with is sculpture in various media. Indian painting has the same lengthy tradition which prehistoric cave paintings just like Europe. Petroglyphs as found in places like Bhimbetka rock shelters, some of the Stone Age rock paintings found among the Bhimbetka rock shelters are dated to about 30,000 BP. Artistic expression seems to be a basic human impulse. This is about the same chronological age as European cave paintings, even though human presence on the Indian Subcontinent far outdates that of Europe. There is nothing like the ancient Egyptian painting in the Indian tradition. The earlists painting other than tge cave paintings seems to be found in Buddhist literature which describe palaces of the military and ristocratic class decorated with paintings. These appear to be paintings on walls as was the primary form of paintings at the time. The Ajanta Caves are the most significant of actual surviving early Buddhist paintings. Art scholars believe that small-scale painting was executed in manuscripts like European illustrted Bibles, but the only surviving examples date fromthe medieval era. The most famous early Indian paintings date from the modern era -- Mughal paintings. They were minatures displayed in books rather thn painted on or hung on walls. This was a painting tradition resulting from a fusion of the Persian miniature with ancient Indian traditions (16th century). It is a rare devloped painting tradition from a Muslim society which as aesult of Koranic teachings prohibited the depiction of the himan form. This style spread throughout India as a result of Mughal conquests, nearly uniting India (17th century). It was adopted by the Indian princely courts of all religions and developed into an Indian style with many destinctive local diffrences. With the arrival of the British (18th century), Indian companies prodiced portaits for British clients. And during the Raj art schools appeared teaching European techniques. Modern Indian painting shows both the Western influence and the Indian roots.
We with our Western background know next to nothing about Indian painting. The Indian art we are most familar with is sculpture in various media and architecture. Painting we know very little about.
Indian painting has the same lengthy tradition which prehistoric cave paintings just like Europe. Petroglyphs as found in places like Bhimbetka rock shelters, some of the Stone Age rock paintings found among the Bhimbetka rock shelters are dated to about 30,000 BP. Artistic expression seems to be a basic human impulse. This is about the same chronological age as European cave paintings, even though human presence on the Indian Subcontinent far outdates that of Europe. There is nothing like the ancient Egyptian painting in the Indian tradition. No paintings have been found from the Indus Valley civilization. The earlist painting other than the cave paintings seems to be found in Buddhist literature which describe palaces of the military and aristocratic class decorated with paintings. These appear to be paintings on walls as was the primary form of paintings at the time.
The Ajanta Caves are the most significant of actual surviving early Buddhist paintings. Art scholars believe that small-scale painting was executed in manuscripts like European illustrted Bibles, but the only surviving examples date from the medieval era.
Murals appear in ancient and early medieval times (2nd century BC to 8th – 10th century AD). Large scale wall painting dominated Indian art for an extended period.
The most famous early Indian paintings date from the modern era -- Mughal paintings. They were minatures displayed in books rather thn painted on or hung on walls. This was a painting tradition resulting from a fusion of the Persian miniature with ancient Indian traditions (16th century). It is a rare devloped painting tradition from a Muslim-dpminated society which as a result of Koranic teachings prohibited the depiction of the himan form. This style spread throughout India as a result of Mughal conquests, nearly uniting India (17th century). It was adopted by the Indian princely courts of all religions and developed into an Indian style with many destinctive local diffrences. With the increasing presence of the Europeans then dominance of the British (18th century), Indian companies produced portaits for British clients. Indian was at first dominated by the British East India Company whuch ruled through Mughal emperors and local Nawabs (various spellings) meaning the princly states. After the Great Rebellion (1857), the period of Crown or direct rule began mmeanung the Raj (1858). It is during the Raj art schools appeared teaching European techniques. Modern Indian painting shows both the Western influence and the Indian roots.
Several imprtant Western artists have been influenced by Asian art. This began as Western traders began reaching Asia once Portuhues navigator Vasco de Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope (1498). The three major Asian powers at the time were China, India, and Japan. The first major artistic medium ompacting the West was porcelin. There seems to have beenm hiwever, only limited impact on painting. The European incursions in India might seem to have been reflected in grater cultutal including art with India. Indian painting schools opened during the Raj and companies were founded to produce basically Western art. Indian art, however, seems to have had little impact on Western art. And this included influcens on British painting. We do see ingluences tricking through frpm China and Japan (19th century). Much of this came from Japan after the Unites States forced the opening with Japan in Tokyo Bay (1853). and the Meiji Restoration (1867). Japan participated at the Paris World’s Fair (1867). The Japanese showed a range of art objects, includung paintings. On display ere a wide range of decorative objects and art. This includedg bronzes, brush paintings, textiles, ceramics, and the innovative ukiyo-e. These objects attracted considerable attention in the art world. As a result, Japanese art, textiles, and other objects virtually flooded into the Western world, both Europe and America. Art historians will know that this was the same time that the French immpressonists were sweepingb the art world. Many art forms were addected. Among the artists impacted were Mary Cassat, Rdgar Degas, Arthur Wesley Dow, Paul Gauguin, Édouard Manet, Claude Momet, Ftanz Klibe, Louis Comfor Tffiny, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Vincent Van Gogh, James McNeil Whistler, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Many others. The initial influebce came from Japan, butbChina was also imprtant. China awas of course the primary ciltural influence on Japan. We see, however, relatively little influence coming from India. Indian painting, for example, depicted Indian then=mes and depictions, asc we see here (figure 1), but with Europeam academic techniques. A reader writes, "I think you are right. For example Raja Ravi Varma is considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art, primarily because in his works he is able to depict traditional Indian subjects with European techniques."
We know very little about individual Indian artists. At this time the only Indian artist we are familiar with is Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906). He is seen in India as one of the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. This of course is a powerfful statement. He is known in India primarily for his evocative paintings which focus primarily with the Puranas (Indian mythology) and the great Indian epics - Mahabharata and Ramayana. Art schools opened during the Raj, but Varma is a rare Indian artist who suceded in a successful union of Indian tradition using the methods of European academic art. This is thevessential reason he is so important and widely seen as such an imprtant Indian artist. He undeniably is the most most prominent Indian painter. Hevis a rare Indian artist knownnoutside of India.
Varma highlighted the beauty of South Indian women at yhe eak of European racism. His paintings were nor just museum pieces. At the time of his death, lithography, including color lithography had been perfected. And his depictions of of the many Hindu dieties became important worship material for many people belonging to the lower castes who could afford printed images. For many these depictions pf the dieties are the primary popular representtion--rather like the Sallman Head of Jesus in America. Low caste people were at the time prohibited from entering temples. Thus the Varma's works were images to which they had access. Varma also managed to improve artistic knowledge and spread his idea of the importance of popular art. He unlike any other Indian artist captured the hearts the Indian people-at least the majority Hindus. Viceroy Lord Curzon, who unlike much of the British in India, was a huge devote of Indian art, honored him with the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal for his service in the furtherance of public interest.
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