ART APPRECIATION Figurative art, sometimes written
as figurativism,
describes artwork (particularly paintings
and sculptures) that is clearly derived
KEY POINTS
from real object sources and so is, by
definition, representational.
INDIAN ART Traditionally these paintings were
done by Brahmin and Kayastha
The earliest of these illustrate scenes
women.
from the lives of hunter-gatherers of
the Upper
The Madhubani style is represented
Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods—a
by a simple and evocative portrayal of
time when many animals were yet to be
culture and tradition, typically
domesticated, humans were nomadic,
depicting mythological scenes.
and collective civilizations were not yet
in existence.
There are also depictions of different Miniature Paintings
types of scenes, including ritual
practices, women digging out rats from
holes, and men and women foraging for Pattachitra Paintings
fruits and honey.
This type of rock art was the primary Pattachitra literally translates to
form of cave painting throughout the “cloth picture,” aptly describing this
Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic traditional, cloth-based type of scroll
periods, often depicting animal and painting. Known for its intricate
human forms. details and mythological narratives,
Each region of India offered its own the paintings call upon angular, bold
distinct style of art. religious motifs lines and draw extensively from
are some of the most common subject Mughal-era influences
matters, often featuring mythological
human and animal forms as well as
Ashoka Pillars
elaborate ornamentation. The three
most prevalent art forms to span King Ashoka, who many believe was an
India’s history are painting, early convert to Buddhism, decided to
architecture, and sculpture. solve these problems by erecting pillars
that rose some 50’ into the sky.
Madhubani Paintings
The pillars vary from 40 to 50 feet in
A nonfigurative painting, drawing, height.
etc. represents something in an Each pillar is also topped by an inverted
abstract way (= using shapes, lines, lotus flower, which is the most
and color in a way that does not try pervasive symbol of Buddhism (a lotus
to represent the appearance of flower rises from the muddy water to
people or things), rather than as it bloom unblemished on the surface—
really looks: thus the lotus became an analogy for the
Buddhist practitioner as he or she, living
with the challenges of everyday life and
the endless cycle of birth and rebirth,
was able to achieve Enlightenment, or
the knowledge of how to be released CHINESE ART
from samsara, through following the
Four Noble Truths). Different forms of art have been
The lion, in many cultures, also influenced by great philosophers,
indicates royalty or leadership. The teachers, religious figures and even
animals are always in the round and political leaders. The arrival
carved from a single piece of stone. of Buddhism and modern Western
influence produced especially large
The Iron Pillar, Delhi changes. Chinese art encompasses fine
arts, folk arts and performance arts.
The pillar was erected by King Chandra
In its distinctive Chinese form,
and celebrates his victories in battle and
calligraphy offers an important channel
was dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu.
for the appreciation of traditional culture
Sun and for arts education. It is also a source
Temple, temple in Konark, Odisha of pride and pleasure for the Chinese
people and embodies important aspects
state, India
of the country's intellectual and artistic
that is dedicated to the Hindu sun heritage.
god Surya. It was built of stone in the
13th century. Painting of Ancient China
According to Hindu Mythology, Sun
God travels across the sky in his chariot Summer Mountains
pulled by seven horses
Konark temple is designed as the The central mountain sits in
heavenely chariot of Sun God with commanding majesty, like an
twelve pair decorated wheels, drawn by emperor among his subjects, the
seven galloping horses. Four horses aer culmination of nature’s
on the right side and three are on the left hierarchy.
side. The Chinese
phrase woyou expresses this
Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh idea of "wandering while lying
down." In China, mountains are
The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble associated with religion because
mausoleum on the south bank of the they reach up towards the
Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. heavens. People therefore
It was commissioned in 1632 by the believe that looking at paintings
Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned of mountains is good for the
from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb soul.
of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17- Finches and Bamboo
hectare (42-acre)complex, which
includes a mosque and a guest house, Here the minutely observed
and is set in formal gardens bounded on finches are imbued with the
three sides by a crenellated wall. vitality of their living
counterparts. Drops of lacquer
added to the birds’eyes impart a
final lifelike touch.
Grooms and Horses
the theme of the groom and
horse—one associated with the
legendary figure of Bole, whose
ability to judge horses had
become a metaphor for the
recruitment of able government
officials—became a symbolic
plea for the proper use of
scholarly talent. Zhao Mengfu
painted this work for the high-
ranking Surveillance
Commissioner Feiqing, who
may have been a government
recruiter. Executed in early
1296, shortly after Zhao
withdrew from civil service, the
sensitively rendered groom may
be a self-portrait.
SCULPTURE
They were discovered
completely by accidentThe
Terracotta Army was discovered
on 29 March 1974 when farmer
Yang Zhifa uncovered
fragments of pottery when
digging a well. This pottery led
to the discovery of the first
warrior of the famous Terracotta
Army.
It's not just soldiersMore recent
discoveries include terracotta
acrobats and strongmen.
Another pit contained 15
terracotta musicians and 13
bronze water birds to entertain
the Emperor in the afterlife.
There was also a pit full of stone
armour and several pits full of
horse skeletons.
The warriors carried real
weapons
