This painting of a patterned lion walking between two identical trees is direct and revealing. It belongs to the kohbar ghar ka koniyan (the verandah outside the kohbar ghar, used as a sitting room for friends). It is a glimpse of life environment and nature. The stylized fruit trees symbolize fertility, what with their abundant fruits and flowers. The trees are semi-circular in shape with a row of parrots, the lovebirds, forming the outline for tree tops. The lion in between the two trees is a duplicate representation of energy and character of god. The animal is naturalistic and depicted in the profile.
The trees and the animal are related to each other by colour and linear rhythm. The rest of the space around is filled by flowering plants. A vine of leaves and flowers run horizontally on the top. The painting shows that nature is very important to the people of Mithila and forms a subject of many a paintings. In fact, there is no painting without one or the other element of nature.
This description by Kiranjyot
Of Related Interest:
Lions and the Sun (Madhubani Painting on Hand Made Paper)
Madhubani Painting (Book)
An Introduction to Madhubani Paintings (Article)
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