Symbolism and various art movements have played an important role in Indian art traditions. The Samikshavad movement in the 1970s aimed to free art from personal obligations and socialize it. The Bengal School of Art reacted against academic styles by looking to medieval Indian traditions like paintings from Ajanta and Bagh caves. It sought to develop a genuine Indian style and identity for art. Major influencers included the Mughal, French, and British empires, while prominent artists involved Abanindranath Tagore, Amrita Sher-Gil, and Jamini Roy.

1. Symbolism and Art movements in India
By
Vishnu Achutha Menon
Department of Media and Communication
Central University of Tamil Nadu

2. Symbolism
● Origin of the term -
The term "symbolism" is derived from the word "symbol" which derives from the
Latin symbolum, a symbol of faith, and symbolus, a sign of recognition.
● History and Geography -
Late nineteenth-century art movement of French, Russian and Belgian origin in
poetry and other art forms.
In literature, the style originates with the mid 19th century publication of Charles
Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal.

3. Symbolism in Traditional Indian Art
● Art forms in India have two main characteristics the
symbolism, and the sensuality. Traditional Indian art forms
used symbols to convey a message.
For example, Vishnu is dressed like a king, with a crown, and
royal jewelry. He holds his weapons—the discus and the
mace—and the conch he uses to call his troops to battle
● Shiva often wears the animal skin of an ascetic and has
stylized, piled-up matted hair with a crescent moon in it

4. ● While speaking about symbolism in Indian art, mudra is an
unavoidable factor. Mudras are hand gestures through which
the deities communicate with their worshippers.
● Snakes are another symbol in Indian traditional arts, the
symbol of snakes represents regeneration and fertility, which
are positive symbols, and having none of the association with
evil they have in Western art.

5. Art Movements in India
● Samikshavad -
Origin - ‘Samiksha’, a Sanskrit word, means criticism of life and society in which
they live.
History and Geography - The first indigenous art movement in modern India,
started in North India in 1974.
It is neither affected nor inspired by western art.
Its main source of inspiration is the present social, political, cultural and economic
conditions.
Its aim is to make the art free from personalized obligations and to socialize it, to
change the art from mystery to something having special aim.

6. ● Bengal School of Art -
Origin and History - An influential art movement and a style of Indian painting
that originated in Bengal, primarily Kolkata and Shantiniketan.
Also known as 'Indian style of painting' in its early days, it was associated with
Indian nationalism (swadeshi) and led by Abanindranath Tagore
It led to the development of the modern Indian painting.

7. Goals Of Symbolism and Art movements
❏ The essential quality of the Indian art is its concern with the
matter of the spirit.
❏ Aim of the Art Movements in India:
To create a different identity and expression for Indian art and
commitment with the role and function of the artist.

8. ❏ Aim of Samikshavad Movement:
·To free the art from any kind of personal obligations.
❏ Aim of Bengal School Of Art Movement:
·To react against the academic art styles previously promoted in
India.

9. PHILOSOPHY
❏ SAMIKSHAVAD ARTIST
- To portray the life of a common man
- Used for the greater and noble purpose
of the society
- People should be able to interpret and understand the art forms and
jargons in their own manner.

10. - Art must be able to
communicate and express
a message
- More effective and
meaningful.

11. ❏ BENGAL SCHOOL OF ART
- They thought of his art being
purely imaginative and westernized.
- Break away from non-western art
tradition in order to get the genuine
Indian style.
- Sought to look at the artistic values
of the medieval Indian traditions.

12. The paintings of Ajanta Caves

13. Paintings of Bagh caves

14. The paintings of Pahari miniatures

15. - Earlier traditions were continued
by borrowing from legends and
classical literature.
- Asian Art movement
- “Avante Garde”- Development of
the Bengal of School Arts
- Took art back to the ancient
periods.

16. MUGHAL EMPIRE
INFLUENCERS

17. FRENCH EMPIRE
INFLUENCERS

18. BRITISH EMPIRE
INFLUENCERS

19. ARTISTS
(OLD)
Abanindranath Tagore (1871–1951)
Amrita sher-Gil (1913–1942)
Gopal Rao (1880–1945)
Jamini Roy (1887–1972)
Kalipada Ghoshal (1906–1995)
(NEW)
Ram Chandra Shukla
Ratnadeep Adivrekar
Reena Saini Kallat
S,Jithesh
S,H.Raza