Mythology: As Represented In Indian Paintings

By Ritika Soun

Image credits: pikist.com

India is a land amalgamated by a multitude of faiths. This belief has been illustrated extensively in Indian art and it can be (broadly) stated that it has given rise to the genre of Mythological Art. Here, art specifically means ‘Indian Paintings.’ We often find that these artworks use religious imagery and motifs as inspiration, which is intended to uplift the mind of spirituality. We can also explore more and discover that these symbols are particularly incorporated to simply penetrate the psyche of the masses. 

However, all of this stands futile when we buy such artworks to add to our collection and use them for mere decorative purposes, adorning our home. To focus on the brighter side we can observe continuity and change that, even though the times may have changed, artists’ interest in Indian Mythology sustains. This is not only exemplified with the Indian artists but the same is also enjoyed and represented with International artists equally. They must have represented it through their interpretations but then, isn’t that what art does? It provides the artists with a creative license! For example- Michal Raz, Israel-born, and London-based painter who has worked on Indian Upanishads and tales.

Image credits: wikimedia.org

In my opinion, the depiction of Indian mythology through the works of art, in our case, paintings- has the potential to attract and target the younger audience and artists. Mediums of learning like these are easier and simple to explain – a topic as diverse as Indian mythology. We often consider mythology as imaginative tales of the past, and if we were to give it a respectable position we incorporate it as part of the ‘oral tradition’, but nothing more than that. Mythology has often been regarded as the science of the primitive. However, if we explore the subject more closely, we can learn that it isn’t mythology itself that has given science the platform to prevail logic and prove things scientifically. I guess it is something we all can ponder upon. 

Someone has rightly said that “art is immortal because it can renew itself.” If we consider mythology, that is immortal as well. Maybe this is common between the two, and something which makes them both codependent. The traditional Indian art, particularly paintings is losing its charm and being reduced to mere wall paintings. Mythology, on the other hand, shares the same fate.  

The development of Indian art during the last fifty years has been traditionalism and modern independent outlook, which is partly influenced by western modernism. Humans have invented different things through the ages, according to the requirements of time and age. These inventions have connected the whole world as the pearls of a garland. ‘Art’ works in a similar fashion. Almost every Indian has heard or read the stories and various short stories from the epics. Consciously or unconsciously those have influenced their activities and expressions. Creative human beings have expressed these narratives directly or indirectly with the blend of their imagination. 

In Mythological Art, Ramayana and Mahabharata are the central points of the narration. All human beings are different from each other but still get associated with the various situations of epics. With the inspiration from these epics, the artists have painted such topics.

Image credits: flickr.com

Many Indian artists have illustrated the Ramayana and Mahabharata in their own style by using their beautiful imagination. Some artists  like Abindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, K. Venkatappa, Asit Kumar Haldar, Kshitindranath Majumdar, and K. Sreenivasullu have created artwork based on the epic Ramayana. Some artists such as Raja Ravi Varma, Nandlal Bose, Ramgopal Vijayvargiya, Sarat Chandra Debo, Sukhbir Singh Sinhal, M.F. Husain, Amarnath Sehgal, Badri Narayan, and M. Redappa Naidu have depicted artwork based on both the epics.

For instance, Jamini Roy has depicted a mythical story through the simplification of his style which was influenced by folk art and Kalighaat Patt paintings. He has created two-dimensional effects by applying flat colors and applied a strong black contour around every form. Another remarkable artist that comes to mind for his exceptional Indian themes through his work is Raja Ravi Varma, who emerged with his oeuvre- a large body of paintings, drawings, watercolor, and oleographs- which was western in style and technique and Indian in theme. He painted a series of paintings in which he constructed the notion of modernity in terms of mythological past. One thing which was unique in contrast with others is that before executing anything in his painting he would visit different places and collect experiences that aided him in his composition. This created a resonance of naturalistic elements in his paintings, threading stories, and mythology. For example, Ravi Varma has followed the story of Valmiki Ramayana in his paintings as he made the illustration of the story through different scenes. Moreover, in 1904, Ravi Varma had commissioned the work of Nine Puranic paintings for the rear walls of Darbar Hall of the New Palace at Mysore. 

To strengthen my argument, most of the Hindu dynasties also commissioned the work of mythological paintings inside the temples and their palaces. Some of them are preserved while the majority of them are lost to us. These are again mostly inspired from great epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, the Puranas, and other religious texts. 

The particular depiction of Ramayana and Mahabharata in Indian paintings makes me wonder -isn’t it a way of presenting the righteous and the most idealist path to the society, where the artist behind might have had implicit utopian notions at heart? We all can explore such questions, particularly in contemporary times. Maybe this can be our way out of viewing ‘paintings’ as mere decorative pieces of art that we have collected from an emporium or a haat. 

Ritika Soun

Ritika Soun is a postgraduate in History, from University of Delhi. She aspires to work closely in museums and archives. In addition to that, she also likes taking heritage walks and studying and exploring various cultures and heritages

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