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Indian paintings can be referred to as the mirror of India’s fascinating history from the ancient times. Bringing about a reflection of religious beliefs, political events and social customs, Indian paintings offer a beautiful record of centuries and provide an aesthetic continuum that extends from the early civilization to the present day.

Wall Paintings:
The earliest examples of India’s long tradition of painting are the wall paintings that attained excellence in the caves of Ajanta, Bagh and Badami, during the period between 200 BC to 700 CE. The themes of these wall-paintings range from Buddhist legends to decorative patterns and showcase permanent human values and principles.

Miniature Paintings:
Indian miniature paintings were done with an idea of symbolism. The symbolic language recorded the miniaturists’ communion with natural wonders. The subjects were basically derived from myths served as the base for transformation of nature into art, human and supernatural. ‘Miniature’ is small size meticulous painting in detail and delicate in brushwork. The art of palm-leaf illuminations were traditionally labeled as patra-lekhana in medieval Indian canons.

Mughal Paintings:
The first miniature paintings are said to have been brought from Persia, by the Mughal Emperor Humayun in the 16th century. The Indo-Persian school combined the abstract calligraphic style of the Persians with the more sensuous Indian ones.

During the reign of Emperor Akbar, books were embellished with miniature art and great Indian and Persian epics were illustrated. This mughal school of art influenced the paintings done in various parts of the country.

The mighty mughal rulers of the 16th and 17th centuries appreciated and sponsored exquisite workmanship in the decorative paintings for manuscripts and albums. The cohesive formulation of styles at the Mughal court came to an end, however, when the sixth emperor, Aurangzeb, at the end of the 17th century disbanded the court workshops in the name of Muslim orthodoxy. From this time forward, Mughal painting increasingly reflected the decentralization of both power and patronage. The gap between the sense of entitlement of Mughal rulers and their actual circumstances is most evident in portraiture, as artists struggled to give the imperial presence its former glory.

Kalamkari:
Kalamkari is an exquisite ancient craft of painted and printed fabrics. It derives its name from Kalam meaning Pen, and Kari meaning work, literally Pen-work. It is hand painting as well as block printing with vegetable dyes. The kalamkari works of art drawn entirely by hand, were origionally created predominantly for the temples as narrative murals.These murals tell the stories of the great Hindu epics in picture form.

Indian traditional art is in many ways a discovery of the 20th century. The bold local styles of the village artisan have always been the major contributor to the evolution of Indian art. Folk art in India does not merely bear an identical resemblance to the original model, but is an act of creation, full of impressions and symbols. The roots of art in India do not live in idealistic art itself but are firmly attached to life-once this is understood, there is no defend, justify or excuse Indian art. Art has become an international expression. Although its regional accents, influenced by different traditions may vary, its basic language is understood everywhere. Contemporary Indian paintings is a reflection of this universal speech.