Traditional Indian paintings have a very long history in Indian art which can be seen in widely known rock paintings of pre-historic times. Traditional Indian paintings mainly depict the life and customs followed by the kings, queens and the people of ancient times.
In the early 20th century, when influence of western culture was at its peak, some renowned artist thought of great ideas to counter the influence of Western models of art, and introduced a new style of modern Indian paintings. Modern Indian painting is thus an intermingling of a rich traditional inheritance with modern trends and ideas.
There are a few special pieces that have surpassed time and culture to achieve their rightful place in art history. For years, these paintings have left the spectators awestruck and enthralled them with magnificent brush strokes and stories hidden in them. Let’s have a look at some of the eminent Indian Artists who surged Traditional Indian Art to prominent heights with their chefs-d’oeuvre
Abanindranath Tagore:
Abanindranath Tagore was born in Jorasanko, Calcutta in 1872. He was a member of the distinguished Tagore family, the second son of “Prince” Dwarkanath Tagore, and nephew of the poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Abanindranath Tagore, an eminent painter and litterateur, carved a niche in the field of modern art. He had been the foremost supporter of swadeshi ethics in the Indian art, so he modernized Moghul and Rajput art style in response to the rising impact of Western art which came along with the British Raj. He rejected materialistic art of the West and unremitting work in the traditional Indian techniques of painting. Later he started integrating Chinese and Japanese calligraphic traditions into his style.
Some of the Indian traditional paintings by Abanindranath Tagore are-
- Bharat Mata
- Journey’s end
- A moonlight music party
- Asoka’s queen
- Fairyland
Amrita Sher-Gil:
On January 30, 1913, Amrita Sher-Gil was born in a land owing family. Born to a Hungarian mother and Indian father in Budapest, Amrita Sher-Gil’s life veered between Europe and India. She was a beauty with brain, with charismatic personality and extra ordinary talent as a painter. When she was eight years old, her family moved to India and settled in Shimla. When she was barely 14, she drew a series of self-portraits in pencil, learning the skill to draw varied moods and expressions through it. After exploring the life of Indians, her perspective towards life changed completely and she started painting on subjects influenced by the life of people and her surroundings, i.e., realism, in her own unique style.
Some of the Indian traditional paintings created are-
- Self Portraits
- Three girls
- Bride’s toilet
- Hill women
- Tribal women
- Two elephants
Jamini Roy-
Jamini Roy was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, who marked a new beginning in the history of Indian modern art. His paintings were an amalgamation of Indian art especially the one found in Bengal and western style. He started his carrier as a commissioned portrait artist, but he was not satisfied by what he was doing. Later, he left commissioning abruptly and introduced his own art style. He canvased ordinary life of people from Bengal, culture and religious practices which were followed by people in India. In some of his paintings, he depicted the images of Jesus. Some of the Indian traditional paintings created by Jamini Roy are–
- Bengali woman
- Cat and the lobster
- Santhal Girl
- Bride and two companions
- Mother and child
Onlooker’s still find attractive traditional Indian paintings intriguing and fascinating as they have the power to create a delightful ambiance. If you are planning to have a masterpiece at your place, then Indian Art Ideas is a great platform to choose artworks from emerging as well as eminent Indian artists at affordable prices.