Madhubani Paintings

Madhubani Paintings

Subject – Art and Culture

Context – An NIFT graduate helps women in Bihar put their traditional painting skills to use in an innovative manner

Concept –

• Madhubani means ‘forest of honey’.
• Origin: Madhubani painting has its origins in Mithila region of Bihar.
  • The painting is one of the oldest and most famous Indian art forms which is also practised in Nepal.
  • Traces of Madhubani art can also be noticed in the Ramayana, the Indian epic.
  • It is also known as Mithila or Madhubani art.
• Characteristics: These paintings are popular because of their tribal motifs and use of bright earthy colours.
  • Traditionally the women of the village drew these paintings on the walls of their dwelling, as a demonstration of their feelings, hopes, and ideas.
  • Today men are also involved to meet the demand.
• Style: It includes geometrical patterns, floral, animal and bird motifs.
• Colours: The colours used in paintings comprise natural extracts from plants and other natural sources. E.g.: Black colour is obtained by mixing soot with cow dung; blue from indigo; white from rice powder; orange from palasha flowers, etc.
  • The colours are applied flat with no shading and no empty space is left.
  • These are usually dark and bright with pigments like lampblack (obtained from coal) and ochre (earthy yellow pigment).
  • These paintings are not made with modern brushes but rather with twigs, matchsticks, and fingers.
  • But now artists use brushes, nib-pens and synthetic colours as well to paint.
• Themes: It is based on the mythological characters which depict the life of Hindu deities like Krishna, Rama, Lakshmi, Shiva, Durga, and Saraswati.
  • The designs widely painted are of Tulasi plant, court scenes, wedding scenes, social happenings etc.
  • Also, heavenly bodies like the Sun and the Moon often form the centrepiece of paintings.
• Eminent Artists: Karpuri Devi, Mahalaxmi and Dulari.
• These paintings are popular because of their tribal motifs and use of bright earthy colours.