Indian Traditions of Visual Arts(Drik Kala)

The art of painting and sculpting are visual arts.

ART OF PAINTING: Paintings are 2 dimensional, for example-sketches or paintings of nature, objects, and individuals. The mural of Bodhisattva at Ajanta caves is one of the finest examples of the art of painting.

Folk styles of Paintings: Rock paintings dating to the stone ages have been discovered in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Bhimbetka is a World Heritage Site.it usually depicts human, animal, and geometric figures.

Classical Styles of Painting: There are altogether 64 arts mentioned in ancient Indian texts. It is termed as alekhyam or alekhya vidya in these. It is said to have 6 main aspects(Shadange)-Roopbheda, Pramana, Bhava, Lavanyayojana, Sadrushyata, and Varnikabhang.

Miniature Paintings in Manuscripts: The miniature paintings in the early manuscripts show an influence of the Persian style. The Deccan miniature style developed under the Deccan Sultanates, a blend of Indian and Persian styles was developed in the Mughal period.

Western Style of Painting: In the British period Indian artists came under the influence of the European style of painting. James Wales, a Scottish artist, had done a portrait of Savai Madhavrao and Nana Phadnavis.

SCULPTURAL ART: Sculptures are 3-dimensional, such as images, statues, pots, and objects with artistic embellishment. For creating sculptures either rock, metal or clay is used. Ex-Temple of Kailasa at Verul(carved out of a single rock).

Folk Styles of Sculptural Art: Craving tools out of stone can be said to be the beginning of sculptural art. Since Harappan times clay images for rituals have been prevalent in India. Ex-Ganesh idols, bull figurines, wooden memorials, etc.

Classical Styles of Sculptural Art: The Harappan seals, stone, and bronze statues tell us about the 5000 years old Indian tradition of sculptural art. Larger size carving of stone sculptures began in the Mauryan period with the Ashokan pillars.

Indian Iconography: Iconography is a branch of knowledge that includes everything about making images of gods and goddesses. The Mathura School of Art laid the foundation of India's Iconography.

Architecture and Sculpture: There are several rock-cut caves in India. The rock-cut caves at Ajanta and Verul in Maharashtra were declared World Heritage in 1983. The temple architecture is identified as the Nagara style of North India, the Dravida style of South India, the Bhoomija style of Madhya Pradesh, and the Vesara style- a blend of Nagara style and Dravida style. The Qutub Minar at Mehrauli, Taj Mahal at Agra, Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, and Kutub Minar are the world-famous examples of Islamic architecture. During the British period, the Indo-Gothic architectural style aros in India. Buildings like Churches, government offices, residences of top officials, and railway stations were built in this style. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Railway Terminus is the finest example of Indo-Gothic architecture.