ART & Culture GS Paper I (Visual Art) by Shivlal Gupta Sir

Model Answer

Question #1. While classical dance in India is linked to its 'divine origins', the origin of Indian theater lies with the people. Illustrate with examples.

Approach:

• Briefly introduce about classical dance and Indian theatre (40 words)
• Discuss the features of classical dance that distinguish it from theatre (170 words)
• Conclusion (40 words)

Hint:

Indian classical dance or 'Shastriya Devesh' is an umbrella term for various performance arts rooted in religious Hindu musical theatre styles, whose theory and practice can be traced to the Sanskrit text Natya Shastra. Indian theatre on the other hand is one of the most ancient forms of theatre and it features detailed textual, sculptural, and dramatic effects which emerged in ancient times.

Roots of classical dance as found in religious scriptures and texts:

•   The earliest treatise on dance available to us is Bharat Muni's Natyashastra, the source book of the art of drama, dance and music.
•   Indian classical dances are traditionally performed as an expressive drama-dance form of religious performance art, related to Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, pan-Hindu Epics and the Vedic literature, or a folksy entertainment that includes story-telling from Sanskrit or regional language plays. As a religious art, they are either performed inside the sanctum of a Hindu temple, or near it.
•   Bharatnatyam has traditionally been a form of an interpretive narration of mythical legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu texts.
•   In the temple sculptures in Kerala and the frescoes in the Mattancheri temple of approximately the 16th century, dance scenes depicting the square and rectangular basic positions so typical to Kathakali are seen.
•   The Vaishnavite cult which swept North India in the 15th century and the resultant bhakti movement contributed to an enriching of classical dance forms. The Radha-Krishna theme proved immensely popular with Manipuri.

However, Indian theatre was never purely religious and rather depicted the folk and social aspects:

•   The Indian theatre emerged somewhere between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD and flourished between the 1st century AD and the 10th, which was a period of relative peace in the history of India during which hundreds of plays were written.
•   While mythology and folk traditions dominated Indian theater, the themes varied from nature to epics and religious tales. However, theater was not used for ceremonial purposes and was not performed in temples or before yagnas. Thus, it grew in a period of economic prosperity, when it was supported by wealthy patrons during the golden age of Indian culture during the Gupta Empire.
•   Traditional theatre forms incorporate not only the common man’s interests but there is also a classical element in them. This classical facet, however, takes on regional, local and folk coloring. 
•   Most important earlier plays were Mudra-rakshasha by Vishakadutta and plays of Kalidasa. While Mudra-rakshasa was a magical tale like Arabian night stories, plays of kalidasa were based on various themes varying from religion to epics, such as Mâlavikâgnimitram and Abhijanashukantalam.
•   Later due to divergence towards poetry, restricted creative spaces, loss of popularity and advent of Muslim rulers led to the decline of Sanskritic theatre forms. Later the Folk theatres boasted the rich tradition of India to various parts of the country.

Conclusion:

Thus, the divine origin of classical dance stands apart from the theatre that derives its origin from the common folk. However, both cultural forms have earned pinnacles of repute for themselves for excelling in their respective domains and for preserving the ancient art forms and refining it to perfection.

Question #2. Painting is one of the most delicate forms of art giving expression to human thoughts and feelings through the media of line and colour. In this light trace the origin, evolution and significance of wall paintings in India.

Approach:

•   Introduce with painting as a noteworthy art form (40 words)
•   Trace the evolution of wall paintings since its inception (110 words)
•   Explain the significance of wall painting ( 60 words)
•   Conclusion (40 words)

Hint:

Being culturally diverse and distinct, a variety of painting forms have evolved over the years; some untouched by modernisation, some adapting to new paint colours and materials.

Origin and evolution of wall paintings:

• Many thousands of years before the dawn of history, when man was only a cave dweller, he painted his rock shelters to satisfy his aesthetic sensitivity and creative urge.
• The earliest examples of Indian painting, that we find evidence of, are on the walls of some of the Bhimbetka caves in the Kaimur Range of Central India, Vindhya Hills and some places in Uttar Pradesh. The paintings are primitive records of wild animals, war processions and hunting scenes. They are crudely but most realistically drawn. All these drawings bear a remarkable resemblance to the famous rock shelter paintings in Spain, which are presumed to be the work of Neolithic man.
• The early mural paintings may be assumed to be the prototypes of the carved and painted picture galleries of the subsequent periods of the Buddhist art, such as in the painted cave temples of Ajanta situated in Maharashtra State near Aurangabad. The earliest of them is probably out in the 2nd century B.C. and the latest is sometime in the 7th century A.D.
• The subject matter of these paintings is almost exclusively Buddhist, excepting decorative patterns on the ceilings and the pillars. They are mostly associated with the Jatakas, collection of stories, recording the previous births of the Lord Buddha. The compositions of these paintings are large in extent but the majority of the figures are smaller than life size. Principal characters in most of the designs are in heroic proportions.
• The contours of Ajanta figures are superb and reveal a keen perception of beauty and form. The next series of wall-painting to survive are at Ellora, a site of great importance and sanctity. The composition of the paintings at Ellora is measured out in rectangular panels with thick borders. They have thus been conceived within the given limits of frames that hold the paintings.
•   The most important wall paintings in South India are from Tanjore, Tamil Nadu. The dancing figures from Rajarajeswara temples of Tanjore belonging to early 11th century A.D. are beautiful examples of medieval paintings. The wide-open eyes of all the figures are a clear negation of Ajanta tradition of half-closed drooping eyes.
• In today’s context, wall paintings serve different purposes. Not only do they bring art into a public space, the artists also receive more recognition. One can find artworks around different parts of the city. They are also used effectively for social causes and political messages.

Significance of wall painting

• The significance of wall painting lies in the expressions they want to convey.
• These paintings tell us about the traditions, customs and various cultural aspects of the different time periods.
• It also conveys the understanding of human feelings and the dominating forces of the time.
• These are the mirror of growth human civilization.

Conclusion:

On India's great painting tradition, this travelled across Asia and created a vision that shaped the culture of the continent. India has one of the greatest traditions of painting of the ancient world. A high degree of technical excellence was achieved even in very early times, and the art, born out of the deep philosophy of the land, was graceful and sublime.