It looks like actresses of the nearby open-air theater were using this cave as a dressing room. Contrary to other ancient Indian cave paintings these drawings are not related to religion: here is adorned a rock-cut cave. These paintings were made around the 1st century BC. Unique monuments of art not only for India but for the whole world are paintings in Jogimara Cave (Chhattisgarh). Supernatural beauty is part of the essence of such beings. How else? Many woman paintings and sculptures depict such mythical beings as yakshas, nagas, vrikshikas, river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna. Murals in Ajanta are world-renowned and tell stories of the life of Buddha and other plots characteristic of Buddhist art. This artwork is far from primitive – we see the work of experienced, professional artists.Ī major part of paintings in Ajanta though are from later time – mainly from 460 – 480 AD. Paintings in Ajanta CavesĬave 10 in Ajanta Caves contains the oldest Indian paintings of the historical period, made around the 1st century BC. This long matured tradition is well manifested in the oldest preserved cave paintings in India. Ancient paintings – the 3rd century BC – the 7th century AD Nowadays we have made an artificial border in time – between prehistoric and historic times – but we can be rather sure that painting and other arts did not experience any “step over a threshold” with the beginning of historical times, there was developed a tradition well before. Prehistoric art is spread all over India from the south of Tamil Nadu to the snow-covered Himalayas. By the way here are the oldest petroglyphs in the world – at least 290,000 years old cupules. Thus Bhimbetka may contain some of the oldest paintings made by humans. The oldest paintings here are some 15,000 years old but maybe – even 30,000 years old. Monuments of exceptional value are Bhimbetka Rock Shelters – here more than 500 caves and smaller rock shelters contain thousands of paintings. Description of these monuments is not the purpose of this page but short insight is useful. Natural caves and smaller shelters in India very often contain prehistoric paintings. A short history of Indian cave painting Prehistoric times But knowing the distinguished and extraordinary achievements in other arts, we can expect values of world importance also from Indian painting. Painting is just one of the dimensions of Indian culture. The cultural heritage of India can be compared with the stars in the sky – everyone can look at it but no one is able to grasp the true extension of it. Since the beginning of historical times (approximately the 3rd century BC) India experienced several periods of extreme flourishing and diversity of culture. A large area of India and the diversity of cultures promise diversity in artistic styles as well. A shade of deep cave and skillful protection from seeping water provide ideal protection from elements. It is estimated that there are more than 1,500 individual rock-cut caves in India and there still are discovered new ones.īasalt, diorite, granite is widespread in Deccan Plateau – these rocks can be tough and time resistant, thus providing an ideal basis for paintings. The geology of the Deccan Plateau and some more regions of India provides enough cliff faces and domes perfectly suitable to create rock-cut architecture. India is extremely rich with ancient rock-cut cave temples – no other region in the world can compete with India in this respect. ![]() In this respect, each rock painting resembles a keyhole through which we see the abundant and vital life of our ancestors. Due to this the paintings in caves, on natural rock face provide the only possibility to see the ancient paintings (another, less convenient possibility is provided by ceramics). Due to this today we have very few examples of ancient painting – although many indications show that painting has been a very popular and well-developed form of art for many thousands of years.Ĭaves and rock-cut structures sometimes provide suitable conditions for paintings to survive – paintings here survive not just centuries but even tens of thousands of years. It disappears together with its base – paper, fabric, wood, plaster, and even walls of stone masonry buildings. There have been preserved rather many ancient paintings in India – in spite of the fact that painting is comparatively short-lived and fragile art. Scene of Samava-sarvana, Sittanavasal / Yorck Project, public domain
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