Rajasthani Painting: A Brief Introduction

KALAAMANCH अगस्त 16, 2025

 Period & Development

Rajasthani painting flourished mainly between the 16th and 19th centuries in Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Art historian Ananda Coomaraswamy called it “Rajput Painting”, distinguishing it from Mughal art.
It is known for strong outlines, bright colors, and a beautiful blend of human figures, nature, and architecture. Local folk traditions are reflected in almost every painting.

Techniques & Features

  • Painted on “Vasli”, a thick handmade paper made by pasting thin sheets together with glue.

  • Natural minerals, and even gold & silver, were used for colors.

  • Fine detailing was done with brushes made of camel or squirrel hair.

  • After completion, the painting was polished with an agate stone to give it shine.

  • Painting was often a teamwork process – the main artist drew outlines, others filled colors, and calligraphers wrote verses below.

Main Themes

  1. Bhakti & Krishna Leela – Inspired by the Vaishnava Bhakti movement (16th century). Krishna shown as both God and ideal lover. Radha-Krishna’s union and separation expressed both spiritual and human emotions.

  2. Literary Works – Illustrations of texts like Geet Govind (Jayadeva), Rasikpriya & Kavipriya (Keshavdas), Rasamnjari (Bhanudatta), and Bihari Satsai (Bihari Lal).

  3. Ragamala – Paintings visualizing musical modes (ragas & raginis).

  4. Romantic Folk Tales – Stories like Dhola-Maru, Soni-Mahiwal, Mrigavati.

  5. Royal & Everyday Life – Courts, battles, festivals, hunting, weddings, music, dance, portraits, and urban life.

Major Schools / Styles of Rajasthani Painting

1. Mewar School (oldest & original style)

  • Influenced by Ajanta art.

  • Artists: Nasiruddin, Sahibdin.

  • Subjects: Ragamala, Ramayana.

  • Sub-styles: Chawand, Nathdwara (Pichhwai paintings) – famous for Krishna & banana tree paintings.

  • Example: Shravak Pratikraman Sutra Churni (1260 CE), Maru Ragini (1628 CE).

2. Marwar School

Includes Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kishangarh.

  • Jodhpur – Started under Maldev, flourished under Man Singh. Mughal influence seen. Famous for Dhola-Maru love story.

  • Bikaner – Mughal & Deccani influences. Known for Usta art (on camel hide) and Matheran art (on wet plaster). Artists often signed name & date.

  • Kishangarh – Developed under Savant Singh (poet Nagari Das). Famous for “Bani Thani” painting, called the “Mona Lisa of India”. Women shown with arched eyes, sharp nose, thin lips.

3. Dhundhar School

Includes Jaipur & Alwar.

  • Jaipur – Strong Mughal influence, flourished under Sawai Pratap Singh. Life-size portraits introduced.

  • Alwar – Grew under Vijay Singh. Known for ivory painting and smooth shiny colors.

4. Hadoti School

Includes Bundi & Kota.

  • Bundi – Golden age under Umed Singh. Famous for green color use, natural scenery (trees, waterfalls), hunting scenes, and palace frescoes.

  • Kota – Famous for hunting scenes, often with women hunters. Also flourished under Umed Singh.

Conclusion

Rajasthani painting is a glorious expression of Indian art, blending beauty, spirituality, literature, and royal traditions. It preserves religious beliefs, folk culture, and courtly life of its time. Even today, many artists continue this tradition, keeping Rajasthan’s rich artistic heritage alive.

KALAAMANCH

प्रस्तुतकर्ता KALAAMANCH

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