2. HISTORY OF ILLUSTRATION
➤ The history of The origin llustration
in India can be traced back to the
time when technological
advancements did not come to the
fore.
➤ The advent of illustration in India
can be dated back to the 9000 BCE.
➤ Cave walls and stones were believed
to be the most favoured surface for
illustration while paint used with
hands would represent the basic
forms from nature.
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3. 9000 BCE
➤ The earliest of the
illustrations found in India
dates back to the Bhimbetka
Cave Paintings in Madhya
Pradesh, India.
➤ The cave walls and stones
represent the basic forms of
nature and therefore, became
the very first example of
illustration in India.
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4. 3300 BCE
➤ The Indus Valley Civilisation in the
north west part of India developed
into the first organised settlement.
The period saw the development of
economics, art, language and
architecture along with the
development of the Indus Valley
script.
➤ The symbols in the form of seals
were applied in carvings, paintings,
chiseling and embossing. The seals
were also made of materials like
soapstone, terracotta, bone, shell,
sandstone, copper, silver and gold.
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5. 2500 BCE
➤ Clay Pots were considered to be
quite popular materials for
decoration in this era.
➤ The most common used to be
red pots painted over by black
paint to add graphics on the
pots.
➤ During those days, the pots were
favoured for water
transportation, grain storage and
storage for oil and illustration in
pots was a distinctive art then.
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6. 7TH CENTURY
➤ This era marked the growth of
literature in various parts of
India. The invention of paper in
China was introduced to India in
the 7th century by the Chinese
prisoners from Samarkand.
➤ This was also the time when the
Palas of Bengal initiated the
miniature paintings
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7. 9TH - 13TH CENTURY
➤ Temples and Coins are mostly
illustrated with the life of the Cholas.
Some of the most popular scenes
from Ramayana, Mahabharata,
Puranas and lives of the 63
Nayanmars are sculptured in
narrative panels.
➤ The Cholas mastered the art of
portrait making and the best
specimens of portraits are found on
the walls of various temples from the
Chola dynasty.
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8. 12TH - 16TH CENTURY
➤ During the Mughal Period, a
chronicle of Emperor Akbar named
Akbar Nama/ Ain-i-akbari was
commissioned by Akbar himself
and written by Abul Fazl.
➤ 49 different artists contributed to
illustrating the stories in the form
of miniature paintings.
➤ Mughals also patronised the art of
‘Kalamkari’ on textiles besides
painting on paper and architecture.
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9. ➤ The Hastividyarnava, an
illustration of manuscripts of
Assam was commissioned
under the patronage of King
Siva Singha and his Queen
consort Phuleswari.
➤ The manuscript was written by
Sukumar Barkaith and it dealt
with the management and
care of the elephants in royal
stables.
18TH CENTURY
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10. ➤ Artists Ritu Menon and Urvashi Butalia set up India’s first feminist
publishing house titled Kali for women.
➤ The illustration became widely popular as it represents the strength,
courage and glory of women.
20TH CENTURY
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11. ➤ This era marked the beginning
of illustration for children in
editorial form. The most
popular of these was Tulika
Publishers. It was established as
an independent publishing
house by Radhika Menon.
➤ Based in Chennai, they
published multi lingual
children’s books with attractive
illustrations.
MID 20TH CENTURY
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12. ➤ In the year 2008,
Indépendant illustrators
emerged pan India with
unique forms of self
illustrated publications.
➤ They illustrated graphic
novels like ‘Kari’ which not
only encouraged emerging
illustrators but also enhanced
illustration as a popular
genre.
21ST CENTURY
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13. ➤ Black Mumba is a collection of
short stories revolving around
life in Mumbai. It was written
by Ram V and featuring art by
Devmalya Pramanik, Kishore
Mohan, Rosh and Aditya
Bidikar.
➤ The illustrations in Black
Mumba took the city by storm
with its unique yet realistic
approach to life in Mumbai.
MID 21ST CENTURY
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