108 Portraits of Indian Traditional Art

India’s diversity spans a multitude of creative practices with a strong interdisciplinary connection. This is evidenced in its traditional art with its rich cultural history, which has been passed down from one generation to the next and is part of the received wisdom of the country.

The author traces this vibrant history of traditional art from early rock-cut drawings at Bhimbetka to the magnificence of early Buddhist murals and wall paintings in the temples of South India; miniatures and other cross-cultural influences; folk art by the Gonds of Madhya Pradesh and iconic Madhubani paintings of Bihar; arriving at the emergence of the Company School paintings.

The book features a splendid selection of images that illustrate the styles of each period, and the many mediums, ranging from stone, terracotta and wood to cloth, paper and canvas. The variety of materials is huge ranging from natural dyes and colours—created from earth, mud, leaves and charcoal that give them an antiquated, nostalgic feel; to ink, gold, watercolour and oil.

This book is a part of the 108 Portraits of Indian Culture and Heritage series of 14 titles which presents an encyclopaedic view of India’s immeasurable traditional knowledge, each tracing the development and history of a unique discipline. The books are on Indian Traditional Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Music, Dance, Sculpture, Architecture, Objects, Food, Printmaking, Design, Vernacular and Indigenous Art, Textile, Crafts and Photography