Indian Art

Thanjavur, Madhubani, Warli, Kalighat, Miniatures, Gond, Patachitra are popular folk styles. The modern Indian art movement is believed to have begun in the late nineteenth century in Kolkata. Indian art consists of a variety of art forms, including painting, sculpture, pottery and textile arts such as woven silk. Traditional folk-art forms had died out under the British, who brought in their own forms of art. Artists like Raja Ravi Varma show a predominantly western influence in their work. Then came the Bengal School of Art, which evolved as a reaction to the Western influence. The new school returned to India's rich heritage and artistic practices. It was succeeded by the Rabindranath Tagore's Santiniketan School.

Traditional Indian art had a religious character and Buddhism, Hinduism and then Islam. The pieces often feature mythological, human and animal forms and elaborate ornamentation.

Indian art is unique largely because it is not just about aesthetics, every symbol, motif and process has significance to a people, to a community, to their beliefs and rituals. Multi-media and diverse, masks used in rituals and ceremonies are an elaborate art form, as are textiles, baskets, kitchen objects and even the human body itself. Indian art is a living, breathing entity, the integral fabric that weaves cultures together.

Architecture, sculpture, textiles, pottery, painting, literature, music, performance and film.

Art is always an intimate reflection of history, it contains the energy of a people, a community, a way of life and a belief system. It also traces the development of civilization and the evolution of its various tenets. Music and dance are important forms of soft power and can shape the values, faith and aspirations of Indians as well as shape the perception of India abroad.

Raja Ravi Varma and M.F. Husain are almost synonymous with modern Indian fine art. The ancient frescos and murals in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora and in temples in South India are famed the world over. Other famous artists include Amrita Sher-Gil, Rabindranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore (founder of the Bengal School of Art), S.H. Raza, Tyeb Mehta, Francis Newton Souza, Jamini Roy, Anjolie Ela Menon, Jatin Das, Ramkinkar Baij, Bose Krishnamachari, Yusuf Arakkal and many more.

The three main Indian art forms are painting, architecture, and sculpture.

There are more than 50 traditional folk and tribal Indian arts.

Madhubani Painting, Warli Painting, Miniature Painting, Kalamkari, Tanjore Painting, Pattachitra, Gond Painting, 6 Rare and Unique Eye Colors, Taj Mahal sculpture, etc.

Most Famous Indian Artists are : Satish Gujral, Rabindranath Tagore, Sayed Haider Raza, Sayed Haider Raza, Nandalal Bose, Nandalal Bose, Abanindranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, Amrita Sher-Gil, Amrita Sher-Gil, Maqbool Fida Husain, Maqbool Fida Husain.