Descent of Ganga

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Name: Descent of Ganga
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: DE23
Price: 135.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$135

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Specifications

	DE23
	Madhubani Painting on Hand Made PaperArtist Vidya Devi and Dhirendra Jha
	Dimensions: 2.5 ft x 1.8 ft

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

The myths and legends prevelant among the indigenous people form an important factor in their art. These stimulate dramatic intensity resulting in distortion or in some cases, use of strongly contrasting colours.

Legends from the Puranas are very popular amongst the inhabitants of Madhubani. The Gangadhara legend traces the origin of the river Ganga to heaven. Ganga had to be persuaded to descend to the earth to enable the ancestors of king Bhagiratha to ascend to heaven. The artist who has signed her name on the left has traced the entire procedure not only pictorally but explains it in words for the uninitiated. The 'muni' who had consumed the Ganga in one gulp agrees to release her from his thigh. But the problem arises that her descent from the heaven could cause untold misery on the face of earth due to the force with which it shall fall. Shiv, the third of the Trinity, offers to capture the Ganga in his knotted hair, so as to lessen the impact of her fall and thereby saving the world from destruction. Falling on to Shiva's hair where he was meditating in Kailash, she flows down the mountains, across vast expanses of land, spreading prosperity and purity.

What stands out in this painting are the hands and feet of Shiva, Ganga and the ascetic which are painted in red, which disassociates them from the rest of the body.

Colors of Tradition: Exploring the Artistry Behind Madhubani Paintings

Madhubani painting is also known as Mithila art as it is practiced in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. It has specifically originated from the Madhubani district of the state of Bihar. Traditionally, the women of this region created these paintings and in recent years, it has become a widely practiced art and has now become renowned throughout the world. This art expresses the creativity and culture of the people of Mithila and is passed from one generation to another. In this way, the heritage of Madhubani art has been preserved for many decades. The subjects of these paintings are usually religion, love, and fertility. Sometimes, social events like festivals, weddings, and royal court are also depicted in the paintings. The most commonly painted designs and themes are the forms of Hindu Gods and Goddesses such as Ganesha, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Krishna, and Ram. The characteristic features of Madhubani paintings are their vibrant colors and eye-catching geometrical patterns. The empty spaces are filled with traditional motifs such as floral and foliate patterns, animals, birds, geometrical structures, and other designs. The local artists create these paintings using a variety of items such as matchsticks, twigs, brushes, pens, or even their own fingers. The paints are usually made with natural dyes and pigments.
As simple as it may seem, the making process of the world-famous Madhubani paintings is certainly not easy and requires lots of hard labor.

Traditional Madhubani paintings are done either on cloth, handmade paper, or canvas. Select the medium of painting as per your choice. If you have chosen cloth, attach it to cardboard to make a solid base. The making of the painting begins with making a double-lined border. This is a very important step because the border is filled with various geographical shapes and patterns or other motifs. The average width of the border is 1.5 - 2 cm. Now that the border is created, you will be left with a blank middle space. This is the main workspace. Start drawing your choice of figure, designs, and shapes. These must be relevant to the Madhubani painting themes.

When the key design has been made, the empty spaces in between are filled with some designs.
Now is the time to color the painting using vivid shades and hues. Colors in Madhubani are sourced from nature; Indigo is used to produce blue, flower juice produces red, turmeric gives yellow, leaves produce green, cow dung mixed soot gives black, and rice powder gives white.

To paint these colors, the artist uses a bamboo stick and wraps cotton around it. This acts as a traditional brush.
The entire painting is now painted using this special brush with natural vibrant colors. · However, in modern times, the common brush is used and instead of natural colors, artists prefer to use acrylic paints.

Since the entire painting is made with natural materials and colors, it appears simple yet enriching. Originally, this art was created on mud walls or soil grounds but when it evolved over many years, the people of Madhubani started to make it on fabric and paper. Today, this art has become globalized and is receiving worldwide attention and appreciation.

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