Women's Art in India

First Online: September 13,2006
Page Last Updated: December 21,2007

Mithila is region in North India in the Bihar state of present day. Princess Sita of Ramayana epic is believed to have hailed from this region, and the arts and culture of the region figure prominently in Indian classics.

The Mithila region is also home to a unique form of women's art that depict the characters of Hindu mythologies in the most innocent of the forms. The women use inexpensive hues and primitive techniques to produce stunning paintings rich in color, character, and expression. Collectively these paintings are known as Madhubani paintings or Maithili paintings.

Here are a few paintings from our collection

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

Krishna Teases a Maiden
Detail from Madhubani folk painting

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

Ardha-Narishwara Half Man, Half Woman
Detail from Madhubani folk painting

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

A Madhubani Artist at Work

See Also:

• Search for Pictures of Maithili or Madhubani Paintings
• Introduction to Handicrafts of India
• Alamkara - 5000 Years of Indian Art -- Online exhibit exploring the notion of ornamentation in Indian art in domestic, religious and courtly settings.