Long before paper made its way to southern India, artists were using engraving techniques to create art on palm leaves. These palm leaf manuscripts of the past tell many local stories in innovative ways. Manuscript making was quite popular in Odisha, which is where the ‘Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati’ originates from.
Certain romances are timeless: they transcend the boundaries of time, fate, and circumstance. In this blog, we explore yet another tale of forbidden love. As Laur and Chanda get entangled in a web of societal norms and personal desires, will they be able to persevere and triumph against all odds?
Indian paintings are a kaleidoscope of stories, colors, and symbolism. Amidst the vibrant strokes and intricate details, one motif that boldly stands out is the image of a cat devouring a fish. This article takes you through an exploration of the symbolism of this intriguing motif.
Long before humans had any concrete proof of trees being ‘alive’, they were held in high regard and seen as protectors and guardian spirits. Trees are alive; listen, and you will hear them singing, their rustling leaves and swaying branches serving as reminders of the passage of time and the secrets that they keep hidden.
Animal fables take us back to our childhood- a utopia of wax crayons, tinkle comics, and Parle-G. Who can forget reading about Aesop’s fables and the Panchatantra? Animal fables are an excellent device to teach children about morality and the concepts of right and wrong. As such, they have been used for millennia to break down ethical concepts into simple, bite-sized pieces.
In previous Rooftop blogs, we’ve explored each school of Rajasthani Miniature painting in detail, and made several studies of the different paintings in the Mughal School. We’ve only recently mentioned the Deccan School of Miniature Painting. Today, let’s take a look at one of the Deccan sub-schools and explore the paintings of the Ahmednagar School of Miniature Painting.
When was the first time that the Indian populace laid eyes upon a European symbol in an Indian work of art? If you guessed the 18th or 19th century, you’d be wrong. European art’s arrival in India goes farther back than you think.
Mural painting is one of the earliest forms of painting. Murals refer to paintings created directly on walls or similar large, permanent surfaces. Out of the murals and frescoes found in India, the mural paintings of Kerala are known for their beauty and unique stylistic approach. Let’s learn about Kerala Mural painting by taking a look at its history, style, and painting process.
A distinct school of painting flourished and evolved in the plateau region of southern India, somewhere beyond the Vindhya mountain range, under several Sultans of the Deccan region in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This unique synthesis of art and cultural elements culminated in the creation of the unique style of Deccan Miniature painting.
If you knew that today was the last day you saw someone you loved, what would you say to them? Would you recount your time together or lament the time you did not get to spend with them? What would you say when time was running out? This question is probably what caused the Chaurapanchasika, a short poem on love and separation, to become so beloved by Indian artists.
