INDIA

Indian Art and Crafts

People working and making Indian art and crafts - The model showing Indian artisans painting miniature art and crafts.

Standard definition says that art “refers to a diverse variety of human creations, activities, and expressions that are either appealing or attractive to the finer senses or bear some impact to the mind of an individual.” Accordingly, art encompasses a huge range of forms, visual and performing. A craft on the other hand is a skill, especially involving performing arts. It may denote a trade or particular art form. It is bliss to view a compilation of art and craft in the Pictures India stock images. These pictures have covered a large variety of art and craft forms, suggesting great standards of creativity.

Arts and crafts define the cultural layers of a particular place, community and race. In fact every corner of the world reflects certain specialties and typicality, representing the character of the region and its people. India, being a multicultural nation, is home to multiple cultural strata of cultures and traditions. What more to expect here than a huge array of cultural products, both in the visual as well as the performing zones? Talking about the visual arts of India, they are several and varied as are its cultural backgrounds. Each corner of this subcontinent oozes with a beauty of culture and tradition. The various items representing particular regions of the country have been encased in the collection of handicrafts.

Visual art can be defined as the display of forms, colors, or other elements in a fashion that relates to the sense of beauty, distinctively the production of the beautiful through a graphic, plastic or any other type of medium. Wollheim describes the nature of art as “one of the most elusive of the traditional problems of human culture”. It has been distinguished as a medium for the communication or expression of ideas and emotions, a way to allow one to explore and appreciate formal elements as they are, and as imitation or representation. Talking of various media as means of expression, terracotta is one of the most popular and ancient options among India sculptors and artisans. The various terracotta figures and statues that have been photographed by the Pictures India lensmen, speak of originality of Indian art form.

Terracotta or the potter’s craft has its origin in India as early as the days of Mohenjodaro (2500 B.C). The artistic representations on these items of the yore indicate them to be pieces of excellent craftsmanship. In India, terracotta would possibly be the embodiment of Indian religious expression imparted through clay. One can easily refer to pottery and clayware as particularly utilitarian and often ornamental. Terracotta sculptures were found in abundance in temples. Proper structural forms were gradually evolved such as cast bricks and tiles contrived in artistic forms.

Available in colors like red, brown, pink, and dark and light gray, terracotta items have a universal appeal. They are suited for adornment of a living room as much for the office décor. The dolls and figurines; decorative lanterns and idols; pots and wall hangings; wind chimes and toys – all made of clay are unique in their appearance and make. The exclusive paintings on the pots and vases displaying splashes of gorgeous colors and hues are wonderful to look at. Also the terracotta paintings depicting women, faces and expressions are equally unique.

The state of West Bengal probably has the best and age old tradition of terracotta art. Most of these statuettes have a ritualistic undertone. The Bankura horse, heavily decorated, is made of rich red clay. Some of the best terracotta figures are found in Birbhum, Murshidabad, Hooghly and Digha.

Jute, another important ingredient for creating culturally artistic items in India, is used in abundance in various parts of India. Produced predominantly in Eastern India, jute products find place in at least one corner of every citizen’s house. Starting from pot holders to mobile holders to low stools to coasters to little dolls and show pieces, the jute items bear a sense of ethnicity and add a traditional value to the setting. One of the cheapest natural fibers available, strangely enough, jute defines aristocracy and ethnicity at the same time.

Items of bamboo and cane are not much behind the jute ones though. In fact they go side by side, if not ahead. The pot holders, flower baskets, fruit baskets and a huge array of showpieces that have been arrested in the camera, also enhance your room’s beauty.

Art is more often than not intended to appeal and associate with various facets of human emotion. Craft is the handiwork of people, done aesthetically, imparting a touch of elegance and beauty to it. The measure of skill that an artist or sculptor has, will affect their talent to prompt an emotional response and thus provide novel insights, the knack to control them at will certifies exemplary skill and determination and the artistic expressions through various media caught in the Pictures India images are incredible.

Applique wall hanging is amazing work of art and craft.

Download Product Catalogues