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India had always been referred to 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 sorts of art prevalent there. Every region in India has its own style and pattern of art. The Indian sorts of paintings have unique origins and history behind them which make them even more interesting. Here are different Indian art styles which you ought to realize.
The erstwhile capital of Odisha “Kataka” which is recognized as Cuttack is famous globally as ‘the silver city’ due to its oldest filigree manufacturing industry called “Tarakasi” in Odia.
Like Meenakari and Kundan designs on jewelry, the elegance of the filigree design is rich in the web-like pattern of silver lace. Filigree is a 500-year-old highly skilled art form that is also an ancient religious identity of Odisha.
Filigree is the delicate kind of craftwork where the silver strings are modified in the shape of jewelry, models, and showpieces as well.
The jewelry of Odissi dancers include the armlets made up of silver filigree work and the Odia brides are said to be incomplete without the Tarakasi toe rings and anklets as they are considered auspicious.
These paintings find their origins and derive their name from a village called ‘Madhubani’ in Bihar. These paintings were first painted by the artists hailing from this village. King Janakraj, the father of Sita, wanted the artists to capture moments of Sita’s wedding ceremony with Lord Ram. Hence, these paintings came to be referred to as ‘Mithila’ Paintings. Predominantly, the themes revolve around mythology, Hindu Gods, and various royal court scenarios.
Tanjore’s sort of paintings was first painted during the 16th century and under the Chola regime, this kind found its calling. Known for their use of vibrant colors, rich surfaces, and embellishments, Tanjore paintings originated from the Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu . The themes of Tanjore paintings are mostly Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Interestingly, the most subject is usually painted within the center of the frame. Tanjore Paintings are painted on wooden planks which are colloquially referred to as ‘Palagai Padam‘.
Warli art is a 400-year-old tribal kind from Maharashtra. Painted mostly by the Warli tribe women, paintings during this kind are supported nature, harvest, weddings, and fertility. Initially painted on the walls of the homes , Warli Art has gained immense popularity and is painted on home furnishings, décor, and murals.
Pattachitra folk painting hails from the state of Orissa. They originated during the 8th century and are supposed to be one among the earliest forms of indigenous art. ‘Patta’ means ‘clothing’ and ‘Chitra’ stands for paintings, so pictures during this kind are painted on a cloth base. Pattachitra art is inspired by Jagannath and Vaishnava culture. Depictions of Pattachitra art can be seen in the famous Konark Temple in Odisha.
Kalamkari literally means, “pen-art”. Kalamkari paintings are either hand-painted or block-printed on cotton fabric. This kind flourished under the rule of the Golconda Sultanate. it was first developed and evolved at Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh but its popularity soon spread to the opposite states. As far because the popular belief goes, within the olden days, groups of artisans, musicians, and singers referred to as chitrakattis would travel from village to village and narrate tales of Hindu mythology. As time passed, they even started illustrating these stories on canvas and thus Kalamkari was born.
Rajput art forms flourished in the 18th century in the royal courts of Rajputana. Scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata dictate this kind . Colors used for these paintings were extracted from precious minerals like gold and silver, stones, and plant sources. This was a lengthy process and would sometimes even take weeks.
