History Notes Chapter 4 History of Indian Arts Class 10 Maharashtra Board

What is Art?

Definition of Art:

• Art is the result of a human’s natural desire to share experiences, emotions, and wisdom through beautiful creations.
• It involves an artist’s imagination, emotions, sensitivity, and skills.

Types of Art:

1. Visual Arts (Drik Kala):
   • Arts that can be seen, like paintings and sculptures.
   • Example: Rock paintings from prehistoric times.
2. Performing Arts (Lalit or Aangik Kala):
   • Arts that are performed, like dance, music, and theatre.
   • Example: Classical dances like Bharatanatyam.

Folk Arts vs. Classical Arts:

1. Folk Arts:
   • Traditional arts passed down from ancient times.
   • Created naturally by a community as part of their lifestyle.
   • Spontaneous and does not follow strict rules.
   • Example: Warli paintings, folk dances.
2. Classical Arts:
   • Follows strict rules and requires long training to master.
   • Example: Classical music (Hindustani/Carnatic), Kathak dance.

Style in Art:

• Every artist has a unique way of working, called their style.
• When many artists follow a similar style for a long time, it becomes an art style or tradition.
• Art styles are unique to specific periods and regions and help study art history.
• Example: Maratha style of painting.

Indian Traditions of Visual Arts (Drik Kala)

Visual arts include painting and sculpting.

A. Art of Painting

• Paintings are two-dimensional (flat) artworks, like sketches or drawings.
• Painted on surfaces like rocks, walls, paper, canvas, or earthen pots.
• Paintings show nature, objects, people, or tell stories.

Types of Painting Styles:

Folk Styles of Painting:

• • Originated from prehistoric rock paintings.
  • Found in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
  • Bhimbetka rock paintings (Madhya Pradesh) are a famous World Heritage site.
• Features:
  • • Show humans, animals, and geometric shapes.
    • Use natural colors like black, red, and white.
    • Reflect changes in culture, from hunting to farming.
    • Help understand ancient people’s knowledge of nature and resources.
• Examples in Maharashtra:
  • • Warli Paintings: Simple designs showing nature, human figures, and daily life. Artist Jivya Somya Mashe made Warli famous and won the Padmashree award in 2011.
    • Chitrakathi (Pingul): Storytelling tradition using painted pictures to narrate Ramayana or Mahabharata stories. Mentioned in the 12th-century book Manasollas by Chalukya king Someshvara.
      • Uses 30–50 pictures per story, painted with natural colors.
      • Preserved by families and artists but at risk of extinction.

Classical Styles of Painting:

• • Based on ancient Indian texts that list 64 arts, including painting (alekhyam or lekhya vidya).
  • Six key aspects (Shadange):
    1. Roopbheda: Different shapes and forms.
    2. Pramana: Correct proportions.
    3. Bhava: Expressions.
    4. Lavanyayojana: Beauty and aesthetics.
    5. Sadrushyata: Realistic resemblance.
    6. Varnikabhang: Use of colors.
  • Found in texts like Agama, Puranas, and Vastushastra related to temple art.

Maratha Style of Painting:

• • Developed in the late 17th century in Maharashtra.
  • Features colorful murals (wall paintings) and miniature paintings in manuscripts.
  • Seen in old wadas (houses) in Wai, Menavali, and Satara.
  • Influenced by Rajput and European styles.
  • Shows lifestyles, clothing, and customs of the time.

Mughal Miniature Paintings:

• • Developed during Mughal emperor Akbar’s reign.
  • Blend of Indian and Persian styles.
  • Small, detailed paintings in manuscripts.

Deccan Miniature Paintings:

• • Developed under Deccan Sultanates.
  • Known for fine details and vibrant colors.

Western Style of Painting:

• • Introduced during British rule.
  • Focused on realistic portrayals.
  • J.J. School of Art and Industry (est. 1857) trained artists in European styles.
  • Example: Artist Pestonji Bomanji made replicas of Ajanta paintings.
  • James Wales (Scottish artist) and Gangaram Tambat (Marathi artist) worked in Pune under Peshwas, creating drawings of rock-cut caves like Verul and Karle.

B. Sculptural Art

• Sculptures are three-dimensional artworks, like statues, pots, or decorated objects.
• Made from materials like rock, metal, or clay.
• Techniques:
  • Rock sculptures: Carved from stone.
  • Metal sculptures: Made using molds.
  • Clay sculptures: Shaped by hand or molds.

Folk Styles of Sculptural Art:

• As old as rock paintings, dating back to the Stone Age.
• Began with carving stone tools.
• Tradition of making clay images for rituals started in Harappan times and continues today in Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, etc.
• Examples:
  • Ganesha idols, Gauri masks, bull figurines for Bailpola festival.
  • Veergals (memorial stones), wooden memorials, decorated clay storage bins.

Classical Styles of Sculptural Art:

• Started in Harappan times with seals, stone, and bronze statues (5000+ years old).
• Developed during the Mauryan period with large stone sculptures like Ashokan pillars.
• Sanchi Stupa (Ashoka’s time) has later-added beautiful carvings.
• Bharhut Stupa shows continuous growth of sculptural art.
• Verul’s Kailasa temple is a unique monolithic (single-rock) sculpture.
• Lion Capital of Ashokan pillar at Sarnath is India’s national emblem.
• Borobudur Stupa (Indonesia, 8th–9th century) is the world’s largest stupa and a World Heritage site.

Indian Iconography:

• Study of creating images of gods and goddesses.
• Gandhara School (2nd century BCE, Afghanistan): Influenced by Greek and Persian styles.
• Mathura School (1st–3rd century CE, Kushana period): Laid the foundation for Indian iconography.
• Gupta period (4th century CE): Set standards for sculptural art.
• Chola period (9th–13th century): Famous for bronze idols of gods like Shiva, Parvati, Nataraja, Vishnu, Lakshmi.

Architecture and Sculpture:

• Rock-cut caves (started 3rd century BCE) combine architecture and sculpture.
  • Examples: Ajanta and Verul caves (World Heritage sites, 1983).
  • Features carved columns, images, and wall/ceiling paintings.
• Temple architecture began in the Gupta period (4th century CE) with simple sanctum sanctorum and veranda.
• By the 8th century, temple architecture peaked (e.g., Kailasa temple at Verul).
• Temple styles are based on the shikhara (tower):
  • Nagara Style: North India, tall curved towers.
  • Dravida Style: South India, stepped pyramid-like towers.
  • Vesara Style: Blend of Nagara and Dravida.
  • Bhoomija Style: Seen in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, with miniature towers rising from base to top.
• Hemadpanti Temples (12th–13th century, Maharashtra):
  • Star-shaped outer walls with zigzag designs for light-shadow effects.
  • Built without mortar, using tenon and mortise joints.
  • Examples: Ambreshwar temple (Ambarnath), Gondeshwar temple (Sinnar), Aundha Nagnath temple (Hingoli).

Islamic Architecture:

• Developed under Muslim sultanates, blending Persian, Central Asian, Arabic, and Indian styles.

Examples:

• • Qutub Minar (Mehrauli, Delhi): World’s tallest minaret (73 meters), started by Qutubuddin Aibak (12th century), completed by Phiroz Tughluq. A World Heritage site.
  • Taj Mahal (Agra): Built by Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, and a World Heritage site.
  • Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur, Karnataka): 17th-century tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah with a dome and echoing gallery.

Indo-Gothic Architecture:

• Developed during British rule.
• Used for churches, government offices, railway stations, etc.

Example: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Railway Terminus (Mumbai), a World Heritage site.

Indian Traditions of Performing Arts

Folk Performing Arts:

• Region-specific traditions of folk songs, instrumental music, dances, and theatre.
• Part of religious festivals and social life.

Examples in Maharashtra:

• • Koli Dance, Tarapa Dance, Dashavatar (Konkan), Powada, Keertan, Jagar Gondhal.

Classical Performing Arts:

• Based on Natyashastra by Bharatmuni, the earliest text on music and theatre.
• Nine moods (navras) of performing arts:
  1. Shringar (love)
  2. Hasya (humor)
  3. Beebhatsa (repulsion)
  4. Raudra (terrible)
  5. Karuna (sad)
  6. Veer (heroic)
  7. Bhayanak (fearful)
  8. Adbhut (wondrous)
  9. Shant (peaceful)
• Influenced by contact with other cultures, creating diverse styles.
• Two main branches of classical music:
  • Hindustani Music (North India)
  • Carnatic Music (South India)
• Forms: Classical (strict rules) and Semi-classical (includes folk styles).
• Classical dance forms:
  • Kathak (North India)
  • Lavani (Maharashtra)
  • Odissi (Odisha)
  • Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu)
  • Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)
  • Kathakali and Mohiniattam (Kerala)
• Combines vocal music, instrumental music, and dance.

Modern Trends:

• Music and dance festivals (e.g., Savai Gandharva festival in Pune) make classical arts accessible.
• Artists like Pandit Uday Shankar created fusion styles by blending Indian classical dance, folk dance, and European opera.
• Fusion music and experimental styles are expanding the scope of performing arts.

Do You Know?:

• Ibrahim Adilshah II (Bijapur ruler) wrote Kitab-e Navras in Dakhani Urdu about Indian classical music, focusing on Dhrupad style and poetry.

Art, Applied Art, and Professional Opportunities

Art:

• Art history is a separate field of study with research opportunities.
• Professional opportunities:
  1. Journalism: Writing about art.
  2. Art Market: Assessing the value and authenticity of artworks.
  3. Heritage Management and Cultural Tourism: Managing museums, archives, or tourism sites.
  4. Related Fields: Archaeological research, Indology, library science, IT.

Applied Art:

• Art combined with practical use to make it economically viable.

Examples:

• • Industry and advertising, interior design, stage backdrops (Nepathya), art direction for films/TV.
  • Designing book layouts, calligraphy, greeting cards, customized stationery, gift items.
  • Architecture, photography, computer graphics (still and animated).
  • Ornaments, metalwork, decorated earthen pots, cane/bamboo objects, glass items, textiles, clothing.
• Requires detailed planning and skilled professionals at every stage.
• Training includes the history of industrial and cultural traditions.

Institutions:

• National Institute of Design (Ahmedabad, Gujarat): World-renowned for technical and occupational training in applied arts. Offers online courses since 2015.