Know About the History and Origin of Indian Artworks

Explore the Sacred Beauty of Madhubani Art from Mithila - Celebrate the timeless tradition of Madhubani art, a divine folk painting style born in the heart of Bihar’s Mithila region. Handcrafted using natural colors from flowers, leaves, and minerals, each painting carries spiritual meaning, cultural depth, and centuries of matrilineal wisdom. Whether you seek art for devotion, décor, or gifting, our collection honors authentic techniques, community heritage, and sacred storytelling.

Recently, 6 of India’s ancient heritage sites were added to UNESCO’s Tentative Heritage Sites. These include the Megaliths of Mudumal, Ashoka’s rock edicts, sprawling Bundela palaces, and the naturally rich Kanger Valley National Park. But what makes these sites so special? What is UNESCO’s tentative list? And most importantly, what can be our role in preserving our heritage? Let us start this journey of answering all these questions, starting with a closer exploration of these newest additions to UNESCO’s list. You, too, can play a part in this journey. Whether by championing awareness, supporting artisans, or embracing India's traditional craftsmanship, every action counts. One simple yet powerful way is by becoming a patron for Exotic India, where handpicked Indian art, craft, textiles, and books—curated from across the country—connect you directly to India's vibrant heritage.

“If there is paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this”- is a loose translation of the Persian couplet (Gar Firdaus bar roo-e-zameen ast) often quoted to describe the beauty of Kashmir valley. Interestingly, however, there is no solid proof that this was written for Kashmir. People have discovered the same couplet inscribed in Delhi’s Diwan-e-Khaas and scholars believe this was a popular line among Mughal rulers, who preferred it to be written about anything monumental they built- whether the architecture of Delhi or Baaghs (gardens) of the valley

A traditional art form originated from the land of Gujrat, Mata ni pachedi is the pride of the nomadic Vaghari community. Mata ni pachedi translates to “ behind the mother goddess” a kind of regional cloth painting made for the worship of Matas. Living along the banks of the Sabarmati river in Gujrat, the inferior caste of the village was not allowed to visit the temples. Hence, they began creating the paintings about 3000 years ago. The Mata ni pachedi paintings were generally used as a backdrop or canopies in their temporary wooden temple as a symbol of devotion.

Pichhwai paintings are devotional artworks from Nathdwara, Rajasthan, depicting the divine life of Lord Krishna, especially in his form as Shrinathji. Traditionally painted on cloth, they feature symbolic elements like lotuses, cows, and peacocks, representing purity and devotion. These artworks are central to the Vaishnavite Pushtimarg tradition and are used in temple rituals, particularly during festivals like Janmashtami and Annakut. Rich in color and story, Pichhwai unites art, worship, and spiritual storytelling. Discover the sacred world of Pichhwai paintings—Krishna’s life told through vibrant cloth art from Nathdwara. Learn their symbolism, stories, and spiritual meaning.

Oil painting is a process in which pigmented paints are incorporated with drying oils. It is considered to be one of the most respected types of art. World-famous paintings such as The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh and The Kiss by Gustav Klimt were brought to being with oil paints. The most prevalent types of oils used in oil paintings are linseed, walnut, poppy seed, and safflower. Your pick of a certain kind of oil determines the impact on the paint’s properties and the canvas's outcome. The earliest oil paintings were done by a Buddhist artist In Afghanistan dating back to the 7th century AD. The Europeans used earlier oil paint for statues and wood. From the 12th century, its common use for painting began in Northern Europe, and during the Renaissance period usage of oil painting was heightened which led to the removal of the egg tempera paints for the panel paintings. As far as the orthodox icons and wall paintings are considered egg tempera and fresco were relevantly preferred.

Toys come in all kinds of fun shapes and sizes and they make for an important part of one’s childhood. Not only are they interesting to play with, but toys also help in the emotional and intellectual development of kids. Acquainting them with shapes, colors, sizes, etc, they are an effective way to learn concepts. While most people are enchanted by the toys imported from the West and other parts of the world, very few people know that india has a very rich heritage of handmade toys, especially wooden toys. These are made from a variety of materials like wood, clay, etc.

Negative space is a composition of space that is around or between objects or it may be called the “empty background,” those things that we aren’t usually conscious about in our daily lives. As it is shown in the above picture of sculptures of modern art made with white marble, the space around is the negative space. Similarly, in other art forms the area that surrounds and lies between a form or some object is the negative space, it is something that highlights the subject matter. ⁤To understand the concept of negative space in depth, we have to understand the concept of positive space as it excludes the main elements or compositions of the design. For example in a photograph of a long tree against the sky, the tree is the positive space as it is the only thing we can perceive against the empty sky. Another illustration might be a bitten apple, where the shape surrounding it and the positive space combine to create a unique and unforgettable silhouette. These two compositions together form a visual balance, influencing each other and impacting the aesthetics of an image or design. The deliberate use of these spaces allows artists and designers to create compositions that are visually appealing and convey meaning and emotion.

Madhubani painting is an exemplary form of folk art of the Mithila Region of Bihar. It has a 2500-year-old rich history and is not a mere art form but a great way of spiritual practice and nature worship. This traditional painting has five distinct types and gained global recognition in recent years.