Raveesh Vyas, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons A Man being Hunted by Beast, Bhimpetka Cave Paintings, India |
Bhimpetka situated in the state of Madhya
Pradesh of
The traces of human habitation and the
depiction of their artistic desire are depicted in these caves. On the walls of
these caves, we can see the paintings of men, animals and the tools they
use.
The researchers, after using their
modern microscopes and experienced minds, have found out that some of
the shelters were inhabited by humans. the time would be, perhaps, around and
before 100,000 years. The evidence they arrived upon such conclusions is the
rock carvings and rock paintings in these caves, supposed to be done by the
early settlers. The colours used in these paintings seem to be made from
stones. The tools they used would be like stones and brushes made from the
material locally available. Some of the paintings are believed to be done
before 30,000 years.
Bhimpetaka is 40 km from the regional capital
city
Ajanta Cave Painting |
India is rich in artistic heritage. The most
attractive are the cave paintings at Ajanta caves.
CAVE PAINTINGS: The ancient wall paintings at the caves of Ajanta and
Ellora establish that art like Cave Paintings is the ancient one; and even
before more than two thousand years, the artists living in this
country were able craftsmen. Their work depicts their painterly dexterity.
Indian Cave Paintings, 7th Century |
Ajanta Caves, containing paintings on their
walls, are situated in the state of Maharastra in India. The paintings on the
walls of the caves are mainly “Buddhist Religious Art” The time period of these
masterly pieces is believed to be the second century BCE.
The sophisticated style of art that is seen
in the paintings of Ajanta is also found in surviving wall paintings and in
fragments of murals in many parts of south India.
The subject matter of most of the paintings
at Ajanta is the life and teachings of Buddha. This covers various lives and
incarnations of Buddha as told in Jatak tales. Most of the paintings and the
artwork are believed to be by the Buddhist monks or the disciples of Buddha. (Image
Courtesy By Indischer Maler des 7. Jahrhunderts [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons)
Depiction of Religious Tales: The tales depicted in these paintings are
called Jatak Tales connected with Buddhism. Jatak tales are educational by
their characteristics and were meant to educate the devotees about the Buddha's
teachings and life through successive births.
There are commentaries, too, given to make the poems more intelligible. But there are certain passages of prose and poems which are still not deciphered. The paintings done on the walls of Ajanta Caves depict some of these Jatak tales. One of the best specimens of the cave paintings that can be found in Ajanta is of Bodhisatva. There are 29 such caves preserved properly.
Some paintings are of Abhishek or ritual bath
of the king before he sets out on his ascetic life. The clear understanding of
perspective is seen in the receding pillars. The roundedness of pillars is also
brought out by shading.
Miniature Paintings: One of the best times for the art of
paintings in India is the Mughal era, the time of the sixteenth and seventeenth
century, the time of Mughal Miniature Paintings.
It was the time when Mughal Kings ruled over
most parts of India; and the Rajput kings that ruled the Rajputana, comprising
the most part of the then greater India. The desire for artistic pursuits
and due to their likings for the art of painting, these kings became supporter
and sponsors for developing the art. The artists in this period mainly
practised miniature style of paintings, the style which was imported from
Persia. The Rajasthan and Jaipur School of
Paintings, too, was the prominent style of painting during this
period.
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