Chapters 9 and 23 Indian Art

Chapters 9 and 23: Indian Art
AP Art History
Magister Ricard

Key Concepts
Indian art stresses connection between all the major arts (architecture, painting, sculpture)
Buddhism and Hinduism form major influences into thought and art of India
Ancient culture with many diverse languages

Historical Background
Based around the Indus and Ganges river valleys
Due to abundance of resources, became a highly contested area
18 official languages – Hindi is only spoken by about 20% of the population
Diverse geography and religious followings as well

Historical Background
The earliest civilization, the Harrapa, flourished ca. 2600-1900 BC
Synchronous with Old Kingdom Egypt, Minoans, Ur and Babylon from Mesopotamia
Notice the importance of a river?

Patronage of Art in India
Rulers were generous patrons
Architecture and public sculpture used to enhance civic life and propaganda
Art is interconnected; monuments are meant to unify in their vision
Artists work as a team under an artist leader that wants to realize a cohesive vision
Uniformity of style
Artists were trained as apprentices

Hinduism and Indian Art

Hinduism and Art
Kind of a mish-mash of religions from India
Polytheistic, folk beliefs run alongside complex philosophical schools of thought
Infinite variety of the expression of the Divine
The Vedas are the sacred texts, written in Sanskrit
Makes mention of the caste system (Brahmins are priestly class at highest social point)

Hinduism and Art
Goal is to break the cycle of rebirth
Karma and Dharma
Shiva – god of destruction and rebirth, Cosmic Dancer
Parvati – consort of Shiva
Brahma – creator god
Vishnu – god of preservation, order, law, associated with water
Lakshmi – consort of Vishnu, goddess of wealth

Hinduism and Architecture
The temple is the residence of the god (compare to Greek and Roman temples)
Interior cella is referred to as “womb of the world”
Contained sacred statue for priests and attendants
Preferred corbelled vault to the arch
Hypostyle hall (congregation) precedes antechamber (ceremonies)

Hinduism and Architecture
Temples were found in a temple complex
Northern India features more vertical elements with towers
Southern India features concentric gated walls (Cambodia)
Temple exteriors are completely covered with sculpture (horror vacui)

Hinduism and Painting
Excelled at painting miniatures, illuminating texts
Popular theme is the life of Krishna
Crowded scenes with lots of color
Perspective is tilted upwards
Figures proportionally small compared to landscapes, rendered carefully
Use of floral patterns to fill up negative space

Hinduism and Sculpture
Integrated with sculpture; buildings thought of as sculpture
Mithuna – divine couples appear on exteriors and above doorways
Stress sexual union as expression of fertility, creation
Organic and geometric designs with curved lines, dancing poses
To touch an image is to touch the god
Darshan is experience of invocation of deity
Puja is ritual offering to deity

Buddhism and Art in India

Buddhism and Art
Buddha, obtained enlightenment under the bodhi tree, rejects the world of illusion
Prince Siddhartha left royal court and lifestyle behind
Life is pain, pain is belief in illusory world
Endless cycle of birth and rebirth (Samsara)
Assuming unification with the supreme deity is main focus, deny outside stimuli is sign of enlightenment

Buddhism and Art
Rich iconography
Lion – symbol of royalty
Wheel – Samsara, Buddha’s law, cycle of birth
Lotus – purity, esoteric symbol based on its behavior

Buddhism and Architecture
Principal place of study/worship is the stupa
Mound shaped shrine with no interior, is a reliquary and grants spiritual power through close proximity
Worshippers ascend staircase and follow clockwise direction – the direction of the sun
Features three umbrellas and four toranas (points of the compass)

Buddhism and Painting/Sculpture
Much uniformity despite spans of space and time
Depictions of Buddha usually seated, compact pose, seated in lotus position
Drapery treatment depends on region
Usually frontal with nimbus/halo
Features helpers or bodhisattvas who postpone nirvana/enlightenment to help others
Uses hand gestures called mudras

Buddhism and Painting/Sculpture
Artists usually depicted male figures (yakshas) and female figures (yakshis)
Nature spirits, syncretized into Buddhism from native religions
Figures are rendered to stress masculine/feminine features

Art of South and Southeastern Asia After 1200
Chapter 9 and 23

Summary
Very diverse region yet unified artistic visions
Arts were unified into one large monument and vision of a leading artist
Both Buddhist and Hindu temples follow a mound shape
Exterior spaces feature horror vacui, which has sculptured elements piled on top of each other to cover any negative space
Human figures tend to be rendered sensually

Chapters 9 and 23 Indian Art

by Ricard Academy on May 02, 2010

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Chapters 9 and 23 Indian Art — Presentation Transcript