Join our Madhubani Classroom to access the Complimentary Workshop of Peacock and Fish

✨Click on the link to join the classroom

👉Once you enter the classroom click on classwork tab to access the complimentary workshop of Peacock and Fish

🤔The history of Madhubani paintings dates back to the days of Ramayana
The history of Madhubani paintings dates back to the time of Ramayana when king Janaka asked an artist to capture the wedding of his daughter Sita with prince Rama. He commissioned craftsmen to decorate the entire kingdom with Madhubani art on the auspicious occasion of his daughter's marriage. That's one of the earliest mentions of Madhubani paintings that can be found in ancient scriptures and text.

🤔Madhubani Paintings have 5 distinct styles to delight our eyes
Madhubani art has five distinctive styles - Bharni, Katchni, Tantrik, Godna, and Kohbar. In ancient times, Bharni, Kachni and Tantrik style were done by Brahman and Kayastha women, who were considered 'upper caste.' Their themes were mainly religious and depicted Gods and Goddesses, flora and fauna. People belonging to lower castes including aspects of their daily life and symbols into their paintings. Nowadays, Madhubani has become a globalised art form. There is no difference in the work of different artists of different regions or castes.

🤔Madhubani paintings are done using different kinds of everyday materials.
In past, Madhubani painting was done using fingers, twigs. Now, matchsticks and pen nibs are also used. Usually, bright colours are used in these paintings with an outline made from rice paste as its framework. These paintings rarely have any blank spaces. Borders are often embellished with geometric and floral patterns. These paintings use natural dyes. For example, Madhubani paintings in black and white often use charcoal and soot for the black colour.

🤔Madhubani art is characterised by symbols and figures
Madhubani paintings are characterised by figures that are prominently outlined, like bulging fish-like eyes and pointed noses. The themes of Madhubani paintings usually include natural elements like fish, birds, animals, turtle, sun, moon, bamboo trees and flowers, like a lotus. Love, valour, devotion, fertility, and prosperity are often symbolized by geometric patterns, which is another important feature of this art form.

🤔From Mud-Walls to Canvas
Earlier, Madhubani paintings were made by women on freshly plastered mud-walls of their houses during religious occasions. The skill has been passed onto from one generation to another. Today, this artwork can be found on an international platform on mediums like cloth, paper, canvas, paper-mache products, etc.

🤔Madhubani is an Instinctive Art Form
Madhubani art is created without the use of sketches, they are made instinctively by the artists. This feature not only makes Madhubani paintings unique but also incredibly exclusive.

🤔The Connection with Feng shui
Madhubani paintings use symbols and geometric figures which have a strong association with the Feng Shui philosophy. The use of flowers, especially the lotus, birds, fishes, and turtles which we find in Madhubani paintings, are closely linked to the concept of divinity and spirituality in Feng Shui. Madhubani painting is believed to bring with them, the benefits of Feng Shui as well.