Introduction

Indian paintings represent a diverse and significant aspect of the country's artistic heritage. The major types include Mughal, Rajput, Tanjore, Pahari, and Madhubani, each associated with distinct historical periods and regional styles. These art forms not only depict religious themes and mythological narratives but also showcase the cultural traditions, social life, and aesthetics of different communities. Mughal paintings often focused on court scenes and portraits, while Rajput and Pahari paintings embraced themes from epics and folklore. Tanjore and Madhubani art emphasize religious devotion and folk traditions. Together, they form an essential part of India's cultural and historical identity.

Paintings of Southern India

Paintings of Southern India are one of the finest art forms of India. They greatly enrich the historical and cultural heritage of the country. This form of art has been an integral part of the culture and tradition of India.

Paintings of Eastern India

Paintings of Eastern India represent the rich cultural legacy of the country. The vivid human imaginations and thoughts find beautiful expressions through these paintings.

Paintings of Northern India

Paintings of Northern India have acquired huge fame in being the exquisite means of expressing thoughts. Different styles of paintings have developed in different regions which are unique in their own ways.

Paintings of Western India

Paintings of Western India are famous for their amazing blend of patterns and hues to depict beautiful scenes. These paintings add vigour to the cultural heritage of India.

Indian Folk Painting

Indian folk painting is the pictorial expression of rural painters, which expresses rustic culture of different regions and mostly inspired by Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Types of Indian Painting

Numerous types of Indian painting have emerged in the due course of time in different geographic locations as a result of religious and cultural impact. Different types of Indian painting evolved in different periods of history.

Tribal Paintings

Tribal paintings possess an inimitable sensitivity, as tribal folks possess a passionate awareness, massively varying from the urbanised population. Tribal paintings mirror the energy of the respective various tribal groups. 

Paintings in Indian Villages

Paintings in India villages does not require a set canvas; these can be spotted on walls of the havelis, pots, sarees, baskets, glass and several other objects.

Mural Paintings

Indian Mural Paintings are paintings made on walls of caves and palaces. The earliest evidence of murals is the beautiful frescoes painted on the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, also on the Bagh caves and Sittanvasal.

Mughal Paintings

Mughal Paintings in India date back to the period in between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was the period when the Mughal Emperors ruled over a large portion of India.

Tanjore Paintings

Tanjore Paintings have a very rich heritage. Tanjore Painting is one of the most popular forms of classical South Indian painting. It is the local art form of Thanjavur city of Tamil Nadu.

Warli Paintings

Warli painting is a very popular form of tribal painting in India. Their major themes include the harvest season, celebration, wedding, rituals and births.

Phad Paintings

Phad Painting is a style religious folk painting practiced in Rajasthan, which dazzles the art lover with its vivacity. It is regarded as one of the most sought after folk paintings in the world of art and culture.

Jadupatua Paintings

Jadupatua paintings are vertical scroll paintings that were performed on cloth in earlier days but later these paintings were done on papers. These painting were popular in Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bankura, Hooghly, Burdwan, and Midnapore districts of West Bengal.

Mali Paintings

Mali paintings are those paintings done on caskets by the Hindu castes of Bihar whose chief occupation was making of garlands for worship. The paintings on the caskets were exemplified by brilliant and dazzling colors that are attractive and elegant.

Maithil Paintings

Maithil Paintings are paintings done on walls by the people of Mithila. The castes who performed the paintings were Maithil Brahmins and Maithil Kayasths.

Kalighat Paintings

Kalighat temple in Kolkata is dedicated to the goddess Kali. The Kalighat Paintings are watercolor paintings done on mill-made paper by the scroll painters-cum-potters.

Puri Paintings

Puri paintings are paintings done on cloth to which a plaster of cow-dung is first applied to impart stiffness to the cloth so that the paintings would appear attractive.

Miniature Paintings

Miniature Paintings are complex, multi-coloured and small in size, with delicate brushwork. The different schools of Indian miniatures are Pala, Odisha, Jain, Mughal, Rajasthani and Nepali.

Karnataka Paintings

Karnataka Paintings in India had shown a sudden lull following one of the greatest works, the Badami murals. They resurfaced in the 16th century in the form of the Lepakshi murals at the Veerabhadra temple.

Assamese Paintings

Assamese paintings go far back and can be expanded to the Puranic period. The traditional paintings of Assam provide as a resource of encouragement to thousands of art lovers across the world.

Nakashi Paintings

Nakashi painting is a type of scroll art, which depicts legends from mythology and folk traditions. The scrolls consist of panels depicting various scenes from Krishna Leela, Ramayana, Shiv Purana and Mahabharata.

Pichwai Paintings

Pichwai Paintings, found in Nathdwara region of Rajasthan is a traditional art found on the backdrops of Lord Krishna’s idols. The paintings presents gorgeous illustration of the tales from the life of Lord Krishna.

Cave Paintings

Indian cave paintings are of utmost importance due to the lack of proper documented and written records of prehistoric period. Moreover, Indian cave paintings have more durability than most other forms of paintings.

Pithora Paintings

Pithora Paintings are colourful images on walls that are part of a ritual conducted to honour lord Pithora. This painting is usually practiced by the tribes of Rathwas, Bhilals and Naykas of Central Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Oshakothi Paintings

Oshakothi paintings, also known as Kothisala paintings are done on the indoor walls by malis, peasant communities and fisher folks. It is done during Dussehra in the month of September or October.

Saura Paintings

Saura Paintings is a typical form of Orissa painting which is drawn on the walls to promote fertility and also mark the occasion of certain festivals. These paintings are found in the southern Odisha districts.

Anasara Paintings

Anasara Paintings actually belong to the temple rituals in the Jagannatha Temple at Puri in the state of Odisha. During the month of June, the painted wooden deities of Subhadra, Balabhadra and Jagannatha are given ritual baths.

Marble Paintings

Marble Paintings is a form of miniature painting. It is natural stone with beautiful looks, and is readily available in numerous colours. These decorative paintings are best showpieces which enhance the look and appeal of the exteriors as well as interiors.

Silk Paintings

Silk Paintings is a unique type of Indian paintings and is used to create a sense of mystique. The silk paintings emphasise elegance, softness and flexibility of design and style.

Batik Paintings

Batik paintings happen to be an ancient and gorgeous art form usually done on silk fabrics and cotton. Made of dual, single and multi-coloured vegetable dyes makes the final Batik product look beautiful, attractive and eye catching.

Tantra Paintings

Tantra Paintings are a study of the analogy between the physical body and the universe. The philosophy behind these paintings is same as that of the Tantric philosophy meditation.

Delhi Paintings

Delhi Paintings have gained immense popularity among the art lovers especially for their miniature paintings. Delhi Paintings owe their origin to the miniature paintings of the Mughals.

Nayak Paintings

Nayak paintings are part of the popular Tanjore paintings. The Nayaks were great temple builders and they were in power in Tanjore as the deputies of Vijayanagara rulers.

Square Pata Paintings

The Square Pata Paintings are a single painted frame which dealt with a particular deity or a mythical or social subject or an animal. The square pata paintings are also known as chaukash or square patas.

Plaque Paintings

Used as a cover for ancient manuscripts, the plaque paintings is another example of Bengali folk art. Made out of wood, the plaques were cut in the same shape as that of the manuscript to serve as the front and back covers.

Earthen Plate Paintings

These earthen plate paintings are mainly made for Goddess Lakshmi to celebrate Lakshmi Puja on the full moon night. Before the Partition of India, the earthen plate paintings were produced extensively in Bangladesh.

Jain Paintings

Jain Painting in ancient India was a favourite model of expression in art. The Jain community has made a great contribution to the growth and development of this art.

Gond Paintings

Gond paintings are contemporary art form which originated among the Gond tribal community of Central India. These paintings beautifully depict the life of this community and are characterized by customary tattoos and motifs.

Famous Indian Paintings

Famous Indian paintings are those which are the examples of great expressions of art. For long, a large number of painters have contributed significantly to this art form of India.

Art Schools in India

There are a number of Art Schools in India which helps in developing the artistic abilities of a number of people. India has provided numerous well acclaimed artists, many of whom have played a crucial role in the development of reputed art schools in India.

Painters of India

There are a significant number of painters in India who have made adequate contribution to the world of art and are known throughout the globe.