Indian cultural heritage is rich and varied, and Madhubani is a traditional art form that depicts creativity to the best. The traditional art of Madhubani belonged to the Mithilanchal region.
Madhubani art, also famous as Mithila art, is practised in Bihar and Nepal. The art is dotted with complex geometrical patterns, representing the ritual content of selected occasions. The colours used in the painting are natural. It is derived from plants and other natural resources. They are striking and have a bright look; for example, lampblack and ochre are used to create black and brown paintings. The objects like twigs, matchsticks and hands are used to create these paintings.
A sneak peek into the Madhubani art history.
Many years ago, the woman created these paintings on the fresh walls and floors of mud huts. While its exact origin history is unknown, as per the legend, the painting flourished when King Janak took the reins of the Mithila region in the 7th or 8th century BCE. He requested the painters to capture his daughter Sita’s wedding with Prince Rama, the pivotal figure of the epic Ramayana. Her life stories were represented through this art form.
Since then, the technique has become popular and has been passed from generation. The painting is so remarkable that now this art form finds its relevance in clothes, cups, crockery, etc. It is a historically dominated painting by a woman. The paintings are characterized by line drawings with contrasts and patterns.
What are the three main themes prevalent in Madhubani art form?
The three main themes depicted in the Madhubani art form are
Hindu mythological, religious creatures
The Madhubani art form has scenes and scriptures of religious figurines featuring popular deities like Radha, Krishna, Shiva, Ganesha and Lakshmi.
It showcases rural life.
The art form features the rural life of the people living there. From harvests to rural markets and weddings, the paintings inscribe the message of love and cheerfulness.
It depicts nature
The beauty of nature is inscribed in these paintings. Here, you can see various nature images like the sun, the Banyan tree, the moon, the Tulsi plant, animals, etc.
Techniques used in making Madhubani paintings
How are the paints prepared?
The paints of Madhubani art are prepared organically.
The paper is treated with cow dung to produce the natural painting colour. Cow dung is mixed with water and charcoal to create a black shade.
Then the artist takes the help of a bamboo stick to make the outline intricate. The catch is that one cannot change the outline once you have started it. The black outline covers the entire paper without leaving a mark or a blank space.
The juice of Aparajita flowers is used to create a blue shade.
Finally, the artist prepares every colour. Some ingredients used to make pigments are aparajita flower, bougainvillaea flower for preparing pink shade, bean leaves for creating green shade, turmeric for yellow, and rice powder to make white shade.
Raw materials used
The raw materials used to prepare the paintings include satin, cotton, and fabric. Artists today have expanded their paintings, and now they restrict themselves to humans, animals or nature but aim to pass a message.
What is the future of Madhubani paintings?
Madhubani paintings have been there for generations to people alike, but now people are noticing this art form, and it is gaining a wider appeal. The modern-day Madhubani artists enjoy a wider audience, and they find relevance worldwide. Even the government of India is taking initiatives to educate the folks about Madhubani paintings. The paintings reflect the true and vibrant culture of India.
Can you now bring this artwork into your home?
As the world has become digital, traditional artists find it difficult to make a living with this craft; hence many ancient art forms are on the verge of extinction. Madhubani painting is no exception. The Indian folk artists need support to continue doing their work and to revitalize the traditional art form. At Vareesha, we encourage this cause and appeal to you to add the Madhubani art form as a home decor item.
Madhubani art and Homewares
If you are looking for modern ways to introduce this traditional art form in your home, then investing in the below-mentioned home decor items would be a preferred choice.
Madhubani Red pot: The pot is uniquely designed and adds an ethnic look to the home. The paintings add a festive vibe to the home and remind you of traditional times.
Madhubani lamps: The lamps offer a decorative feel to the home. It exudes warmth and is perfect for your living room and bedroom. They look vibrant and showcase the brilliant talent of Indian artists.
Handpainted cutlery holder– Organize your crockery in handpainted cutlery holder. It has Madhubani paintings inscribed on it, adding an ethnic home decor look to your kitchen.
Wooden trays-Another item that you can bring to your home is Madhuban-inspired wooden trays. These trays are decorative and ideal for serving snacks, drinks, coffee and tea. It is an ideal gifting option.
Wall hanging- create your mundane wall into a decorative wall with Madhubani art-inspired wall hangings. These hangings have intricate work and look vibrant. It also adds rustic style to your home.
Wishing to elevate your home decor or want to restore ethnicity, you can buy these decorative accessories online. These companies offer an exhaustive range of Madhubani art items that are eye-catching and appealing.
