Bharater Chitrakala 2 by Ashoke Mitra [Hardcover]

When the first edition of Indian Painting by Ashok Mitra was published in 1956, until that time, art historians and critics—both Indian and foreign, from Percy Brown onwards—had not written a social history of Indian painting that linked the evolution of painting styles and philosophies to political and social changes. Most of the research and writings that existed were either regional or period-specific. In this regard, Ashok Mitra's Indian Painting can be considered the first attempt to write a history of the country's art and culture in an Indian language.

The book explores the evolution and enrichment of Indian painting, from prehistoric cave paintings to 1995, in two volumes. The first volume ends in the first half of the eighteenth century, and the second volume covers the period from the second half of the eighteenth century to the 1990s. Since many excellent, ancient, and modern Indian paintings were located outside of India, the author had to rely heavily on printed albums of artwork in the first edition. However, after visiting numerous galleries and preservation centers across India and other countries from 1958 to 1995, Ashok Mitra's emotional and experiential connection with the artwork added significant depth to his analysis.

The new edition of the book, therefore, is enriched, particularly with a larger collection of black-and-white and color-printed images, which has created a new tradition in this type of historical writing. In his efforts not to distort the history of Indian painting's evolution, the author doesn't just mention Roger Fry's admiration for the purity of nature’s essence found in Indian painting or Rembrandt's praise for the rare economy of Indian art. He also shows the necessity for Indian artists to absorb the scientific approach and perspective of Western art. This comparative tension enriches Ashok Mitra's Indian Painting.

The book, in tracing the historical development of Indian painting alongside political and social change, offers a comprehensive and immersive understanding, making it a reliable document in the history of Indian art and culture.