Indian Paintings: Prehistoric Paintings

Basics

  • The prehistoric paintings were generally executed on rocks and these rock engravings were called Petroglyphs.
  • One of the key examples of prehistoric paintings in India is in Bhimbetka caves in Madhya Pradesh.

Phases

Phases Features
Upper Paleolithic Period (40,000-10,000 BCE)
  • Colour pigments were derived from minerals of rock shelters.
  • One of the most common minerals was ochre or geru.
  • The human figurines consisted of hunters (depicted in red) and dancers (depicted in green).
Mesolithic Period (10,000-4000 BCE)
  • This period mainly saw the use of red colour. 
  • In comparison to the Upper Paleolithic Period, the size of the paintings became smaller.
  • Commonly depicted scene was of group hunting.
Chalcolithic Period
  • Major colours used – green and yellow.
  • Most of the paintings depicted battle scenes.
  • For example – Jogimara Caves in the Ramgarh hills of Chhattisgarh.
Bhimbetka Rock Paintings

  • Location – Vindhyan ranges of Madhya Pradesh.
  • The caves of Bhimbetka were discovered in 1957–58 by V. S. Wakankar.
  • It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
  • The paintings at Bhimbetka belong to the Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Chalcolithic, early historic and medieval periods.
  • Major colours used – red ochre, purple, brown, white, yellow and green.
  • Themes of the paintings – Every-day life of prehistoric men often depicted by stick-like human figures.
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