Folk Painting Forms in India

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Also called Mithila art, it originated in the kingdom of Janak in Nepal and present-day Bihar. Characterized by geometric patterns, it depicts gods, flora, and fauna.

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Madhubani

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Originating in the Mughal era, these paintings are characterized by their miniature size and intricate details, depicting religious symbols and epics.

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Miniature Paintings

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A religious form of scroll painting from Rajasthan, depicting folk deities Pabuji or Devnarayan, characterized by vegetable colors and a narrative of heroic deeds.

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Phad

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this ancient art form uses circles, triangles, and squares to depict daily life activities, characterized by a human shape of a circle and two triangles.

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Warli

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Created by the Gondi tribe in Madhya Pradesh, these bold, vibrantly colored paintings depict flora and fauna, made up of dots and lines.

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Gond

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Meaning 'drawings with a pen', it has two types: Machilipatnam (block-printed) and Srikalahasti (free-flowing), depicting flora, fauna, and epics.

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Kalamkari

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Originating in 1600 AD, Tanjore paintings are known for their use of gold foil and depict devotion to gods and saints, influenced by various art styles.

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Tanjore

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A dying art form from Telangana, influenced by Kalamkari, resembling comic panels with vivid imagination and primary colors.

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Cheriyal Scrolls

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Originating in 19th century Bengal, these paintings initially depicted gods but later focused on social reform, characterized by bold drawings.

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Kalighat Paintings

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A cloth-based scroll painting from Odisha and West Bengal, depicting epics and gods with sharp, angular lines, influenced by the Mughal era.

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Patachitra