Mithila Paintings- Unique Art of Painting is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks.

Indian art history has given a rich storage of traditional painting in Indian sub-continent from history to present  time. Mithila had long been famous in India for its rich culture and numerous poets, scholars, and theologians. Madhubani  is  a district  of North Bihar  situated at  a  distance  of 194  kilometers from  Patna city. The  village  Jitwarpur  is around two/three kilometers away  from  Madhubani  Railway station. A big  cultural activity of  Bihar is  traditionally practiced by  different community artists. Madhubani  painting  is  an  emblematic  expression  of  day-to-day  experiences  and  beliefs.  As  such,  symbolism,  simplicity  and  beauty hold them together in a single school of traditional art. The symbols that these Maithili painters use  have their specific meanings as, for instance, fish symbolize fertility, procreation and good luck, peacocks are associated with romantic love and religion, and serpents are the divine protectors. Characterized by vibrant use of color, underlying symbolism and traditional geometric patterns supporting the main theme, the Indian folk art form of Madhubani succeeded in creating a place for itself in the international house of fame and is now  recognized  worldwide.  The Government  of  India  is  also  paying  its  tribute  by  starting  training  programs  educating  people  on Madhubani paintings. Painting on paper for sale has changed this dramatically. Aside from generating important new family income, individual women have gained local, national, and even international recognition. Artists are being invited to exhibitions across India, and to Europe, the United States, and Japan – no longer as “folk artists,” but now as “contemporary artists.” Where once their paintings were “anonymous,” now they are proudly signed. Madhubani, or Mithila, painting is a folk painting of northern India.  It is mostly practiced by women in the villages who have passed this art to their daughters through multiple generations.  They paint pictures of nature and mythology to depict different events like birth, marriage, and cycles of life.  Though this folk art has been practiced for centuries it started to gain national recognition only in the last few decades.  Now, art patrons can find Madhubani artists in several cities of northern India, many of whom are experimenting and adapting the traditional styles to modern ethos and medium. Everyone  in  Bihar’s  Madhubani  is  an  artist According to time and people medium and tools has changed. Now most of the artists use watercolors and handmade papers. But they maintain the traditional characteristics and style and themes of paintings although the medium and tools has changed. In order to create a new source of non-agricultural  income,  different  organizations  encourage  the  artists  to  produce  their  traditional  paintings  on handmade  paper  for commercial sale. This way now it also widely spread.

Image Credit; connectiveone. com

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