ποΈ Chapter 04 Β· Topic 06 Β· Indian Paintings
Kalamkari, Tanjore & Complete Revision
Kalamkari (AP/Telangana), Tanjore painting (Tamil Nadu), and complete Chapter 04 revision β all painting schools, key facts, GI tags.
ποΈ Kalamkari Painting
- Kalamkari (Persian: “kalam” = pen, “kari” = work) = hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile
- Two distinct styles:
- Srikalahasti style (Andhra Pradesh) β entirely hand-drawn using a bamboo pen (kalam); free-flowing; Hindu temple themes; Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas
- Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam) style (Andhra Pradesh) β block-printed; Persian/Mughal influence; floral and geometric patterns; more commercial
- Natural dyes used: indigo (blue), pomegranate rind (yellow), iron-rich mud (black), myrobalan (mordant)
- GI tag: both Srikalahasti and Machilipatnam Kalamkari are GI-tagged
- Used for temple hangings, sarees, dress material
πΌοΈ Tanjore (Thanjavur) Painting
- Originated in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu during the Maratha rule (16thβ17th century CE)
- Characterised by: rich colours; surface richness from gold foil and semi-precious stones; glass beads; three-dimensional effect
- Themes: Hindu deities β especially Krishna (most common), Rama, Ganesha, Saraswati
- Technique: sketch on base; paste of chalk and gum applied; gold foil and gems embedded; then painted
- GI tag: Thanjavur Painting has a GI tag
- Also called “Tanjore painting” β known for its rich, jewel-like appearance
β‘ Complete Quick-Reference Table β Indian Paintings
| Painting | State | Key Feature | GI Tag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madhubani | Bihar | No empty space; Hindu deities; women artists | Yes (2007) |
| Warli | Maharashtra | White geometric on red; Tarpa dance | Yes |
| Pattachitra | Odisha | Cloth/palm leaf; Jagannath themes | Yes |
| Gond | MP | Dots and dashes; Jangarh Singh Shyam | No |
| Phad | Rajasthan | Scroll; Pabuji/Devnarayan folk heroes | Yes |
| Kalamkari | Andhra Pradesh | Pen/block on cotton; Hindu/Persian themes | Yes |
| Tanjore | Tamil Nadu | Gold foil + gems; Krishna themes | Yes |
| Pichwai | Rajasthan | Large cloth; Shrinathji (Krishna) | No |
| Kalighat | West Bengal | Bold outlines; social satire; 19th century | No |
| Saura | Odisha/AP | Geometric; ancestor worship; white on red | No |
| Mughal miniature | Delhi/Agra | Persian origin; naturalism; AkbarβShah Jahan | β |
| Rajput (Kishangarh) | Rajasthan | Elongated figures; Bani Thani; Nihal Chand | β |
| Kangra (Pahari) | Himachal Pradesh | Lyrical; Radha-Krishna; Gita Govinda | β |
β Master Revision Checklist β Chapter 04
β
Ajanta = fresco secco = Jataka tales = Bodhisattva Padmapani (Cave 1)
β Lapis lazuli = blue pigment = imported from Afghanistan
β Mughal miniature = Persian origin = Humayun invited Mir Sayyid Ali + Abd al-Samad
β Hamzanama = ~1400 paintings = Akbar = 1562β1577 CE
β Jahangir = peak naturalism = Ustad Mansur = animals/birds
β Bani Thani = Kishangarh = Nihal Chand = “Indian Mona Lisa”
β Mewar = oldest Rajput school; Kishangarh = most distinctive
β Basohli = earliest Pahari = bold colours = beetle-wing jewellery
β Kangra = most refined Pahari = Maharaja Sansar Chand = Gita Govinda
β Nainsukh = Guler school = greatest Pahari painter
β Madhubani = Bihar = GI 2007 = no empty space
β Warli = Maharashtra = white geometric on red = Tarpa dance
β Pattachitra = Odisha = Chitrakar = Jagannath
β Gond = MP = dots and dashes = Jangarh Singh Shyam
β Phad = Rajasthan = scroll = Pabuji/Devnarayan
β Kalamkari = AP = Srikalahasti (hand-drawn) + Machilipatnam (block-printed)
β Tanjore = Tamil Nadu = gold foil + gems = Krishna themes = GI tagged
β Lapis lazuli = blue pigment = imported from Afghanistan
β Mughal miniature = Persian origin = Humayun invited Mir Sayyid Ali + Abd al-Samad
β Hamzanama = ~1400 paintings = Akbar = 1562β1577 CE
β Jahangir = peak naturalism = Ustad Mansur = animals/birds
β Bani Thani = Kishangarh = Nihal Chand = “Indian Mona Lisa”
β Mewar = oldest Rajput school; Kishangarh = most distinctive
β Basohli = earliest Pahari = bold colours = beetle-wing jewellery
β Kangra = most refined Pahari = Maharaja Sansar Chand = Gita Govinda
β Nainsukh = Guler school = greatest Pahari painter
β Madhubani = Bihar = GI 2007 = no empty space
β Warli = Maharashtra = white geometric on red = Tarpa dance
β Pattachitra = Odisha = Chitrakar = Jagannath
β Gond = MP = dots and dashes = Jangarh Singh Shyam
β Phad = Rajasthan = scroll = Pabuji/Devnarayan
β Kalamkari = AP = Srikalahasti (hand-drawn) + Machilipatnam (block-printed)
β Tanjore = Tamil Nadu = gold foil + gems = Krishna themes = GI tagged