This is the first part of the three articles to be published on this subject.

What is contemporary Indian art? This is a question that has gnawed at the global literary consciousness time and again. Indian art has its roots in myriad folk styles and traditions and has also fed on the social and political ethos of not only India but also of the world.

The contemporary stream of Indian consciousness is, in fact, a unified ex-pression of the individual creative energies of various Indian artists. In this article I will attempt to draw vignettes of the contemporary heritage of Indian painting and profile the personal journey of contemporary Indian artists.

Indian art of the early 17th century comprised of miniature court paintings, which had reached its zenith during the Mughal Empire.However, with the advent of the East India Company, European form of art was introduced. This resulted in an art form that was a mix of the European art styles and the folk art of India.

Raja Ravi Verma's art is a reflection of this hybrid style. Ravi Verma was in fact, the first Indian artist to apply the traditions of western academic realism to the representations of Indian literature and mythology. Raja Ravi Verma (1848-1906) was born in Kilimanoor, a small fiefdom in modern Kerala. Although his paintings had a distinct Indianness in terms of costume, his sensual and diaphanously clad women with the delicate brushwork bespoke of European Renaissance style. 'Nair Lady adorning her Hair' and 'The lady with the Lamp' are perhaps his best works.

But artists chafing under foreign dominion took recourse to the creation of an independent entity or 'swadeshi'. This concept of 'swadeshi' emerged in the form of a revival of art with its roots in the Indian tradition.

Nand Lal Bose was one such proponent of the traditional art form. Nand Lal Bose (1882-1966) taught at the Indian School of oriental Art and was the principal at Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan. Influenced by the Tagore family (Abhaindara Nath Tagore, Rabindera Nath Tagore) and the murals of Ajanta, his classic works include scenes from Indian mythology, life of women and village life.

http://watercolors2008.blogspot.com/