Learn how the timeless beauty and cultural significance of Indian paintings continue to inspire and shape the art world today.
Indian art is known for its rich legacy and intricate stylization which illuminates our culture and highlights our tradition. Janus Art Gallery is a gallery in Bengal, that celebrates the cultural legacy of Indian art by showcasing art from Bengal. As we know art transcends borders by revisiting the delicacies of nature and the timeless beauty of flora and fauna of the Indian subcontinent, as seen in the frescoes of Ajanta, and the rich passionate miniatures of the Mughal and Rajput ateliers. We thus welcome artists, collectors, and enthusiastic personalities to delve more into encouraging and appreciating art and buying Indian paintings. It is known that in our ancient past, each school had a stylization of its own which has global acclaim. Miniatures of each school, may it be Mughal, Rajasthani or Pahari speak largely about our rich flora and also about the mundane beauties. The rich handling of the brushes and the soft and vibrant colour palette attracts art aficionados on a global scale. Many Western researchers spent their lifetime with passion and vigour to learn and appreciate the richness of Indian Art. In the global art scenario, contemporary Indian paintings have quite a large audience and connoisseurs who have a keen eye.
However Indian Art underwent an enormous change in its rendering since its inception. The major shift that affected all the spheres of society including art and literature in the 19th and 20th centuries, with the arrival of the British in India. The British colonial period marks the pages of history as the initial stage where Indian artists came in contact with Western art and thereby paved the way for the global market of the present day. The Western approach to looking at art was highly appreciated by the crème elite of India. In Bengal this trend was set by a few rich connoisseurs among them Abanindranath accelerated the whole scenario and led the Bengal School movement. Gradually many other noteworthy artists like Nandalal Bose, Asit Halder, and Gaganendranath Tagore joined together which made the movement more significant. The main intention of the Bengal school artists is to learn the Western approach (which was facilitated by the establishment of the Government Art Colleges by the British Government to train young native draftsmen), but the essence should be Indian. The infusion of traditional Indian styles with the amalgamation of Western techniques lay the stepping stone for contemporary Indian paintings. We express our utmost respect for the notable masters through our collection and extend our effort to encourage young artists who look forward to experimenting with new forms and concepts in their works by offering Indian paintings on sale. A rare blend of the traditional style which has a touch of spirituality, and symbolism with the upcoming new and improvised techniques gives a whole fresh look to the Indian art scenario.
The recent scenario of the Indian visual culture experiences an upsurge in the folk art practices from different tribal states of the subcontinent. Madhubani, Warli, and Pattachitra gained popularity on a mass scale which brought these visual traditions more closely to the modern lifestyle. The symbolic shapes, patterns, and rich colour schemes add to the grandiose possession of the collectors. In Bengal, one must surely admit that Battala prints and Kalighat patas gained mass validation, which speaks a lot regarding the lavish lifestyles of the babus and bibis of Bengal. The simplicity in its rendering and lucid colour palette attracted a large race and influenced many artists; Jamini Roy is one such artist whose works are influenced by Kalighat patas. We appreciate and relish this beautiful synergy that took place and brought a dynamic change in Indian Art. The infusion of iconography with classic philosophies of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain and the derivation of textual context revealed layered meaning and enhanced our understanding of the societal norms of the particular period. Art of India has quenched the thirst of many aesthetes, who have devoted or rather celebrated their lives by cherishing the sublimity of Indian art and aesthetics.
As we have acknowledged that art transcends regional boundaries and creates a universal forum for mass access, thus we took an opportunity to contribute by promoting Indian paintings for sale. Those who have a relatable knowledge of Indian art must be acquainted with the company paintings, which are integrally related to the growth of Indian Art from the global perspective. Daniell Brothers’ is one such name that produced finest Lithograph prints for the East India Company which replaced the need of photographs. The themes and landscapes being of Indian origin the technique was purely Western. The significance of art is not confined to beauty but also caters to images for understanding and revisiting the past scenario. By imageries may it be painted or photographed gives us a scope to build our notion of the past prevailing customs which paves the way for future generations. If we talk about true-to-nature characteristics of paintings, this is not a new concept for Indian Art; in the 16thcentury, India had a rich tradition of Mughal miniature whose perfection supersedes technology. Even in Rajput miniatures, we sense a tactile handling of colour schemes which gives its viewers a sense of connectedness with the imagery that leaves a lasting effect on the mind of the onlooker.
However, it is a fact that, unlike Western Art, the shifts in Indian Art traditions are not demarked with ‘isms’. The dynamic shifts in the stylization of Indian art are rather related to different schools of art. Post-independence and colonization brought Indian artists closer to the Western ‘isms’ through the import of Western printed books and other imageries in printed form. The introduction of photography among the elite, the exchange of culture in the form of fashion, and import of the foreign luxury products into the Indian market influenced as well as brought in the Bengal scenario the concept of ‘swadeshi’ which is reflected in the paintings of the Bengal school.
In the present art market with the advent of different new and modified technology, art is not confined to create paintings and sculptures but it has surpassed all the barriers, digital art, and graphic design have gained substantial popularity. Online platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, gallery websites, and other social media sites opened doors for practicing artists to reach the global market through these platforms by showcasing contemporary Indian paintings. In the last few decades, the biennale platforms brought in the market new attention and attraction for international collectors and artists as well which allowed Indian artists to experiment with forms, colours, and materials to create their artistic vocabulary. A cross-cultural dialog has taken the front seat of the art market which is getting updated day by day.
Whenever we talk about art the first thing that comes to our mind is beauty, but the sense of beauty has gained a new level which is now based on the reflection of mature thinking and exploration of the artistic mind. With exploring new mediums the idea of sustainability and durability also takes centre stage. In modern society, few terms have ruled the present consumer-oriented society, for instance eco-conscious, eco-friendly, and terms which are more intended to return a certain amount of care that we extract from nature. Now this eco-friendly concept goes hand in hand with products of art which have a large target audience in the global market.