The
Madhubani Paintings are
folk paintings of Mithila, a market town in the
northern part of Bihar. This art, with a tradition going back to centuries,
is today an exclusive monopoly of women artistes. Done in primary colours of
natural origin on paper and cloth, they narrate mythological and religious
events. This painting is one of the traditional skills that are passed down
from generation to generation in the families of some women.
Earlier,
Madhubani paintings chiefly depicted mythological personages, deities and
flora and fauna of a region.However,
now they incorporate tantric symbolism in the basic design. Other figures
used in these paintings are those of Shiva and Parvati, Radha and Krishna
and almost all the deities of the Hindu pantheon and the rural local
religions. These
figures are placed centrally and their consorts, mounts and floral motifs
are placed in the background.
According to
earlier accounts, the paintings were actually executed by Brahmin and
Kayastha women, who, by reason of their caste constituted a socially
respected minority in the villages of Bihar. However, this folk art form
gained international recognition only in the recent times. Among the first
modern outsiders to document the tradition of Madhubani painting were
William and Mildred Archer. He was a British civil servant assigned to the
district during the colonial era. As a result of sustained encouragement
from Government, painting has become a primary source of income for scores
of families from Mithila. The women of Mithila have now successfully
transferred their techniques of bhitti chitra or wall painting to the medium
of paper. They have come to be regarded as representative of the Indian folk
art and are eagerly sought after by art lovers.
by reason of their caste constituted a socially
respected minority in the villages of Bihar. However, this folk art form
gained international recognition only in the recent times. Among the first
modern outsiders to document the tradition of Madhubani painting were
William and Mildred Archer. He was a British civil servant assigned to the
district during the colonial era. As a result of sustained encouragement
from Government, painting has become a primary source of income for scores
of families from Mithila. The women of Mithila have now successfully
transferred their techniques of bhitti chitra or wall painting to the medium
of paper. They have come to be regarded as representative of the Indian folk
art and are eagerly sought after by art lovers.