Mithila Painting

The place has its own charm when its speciality is world-famous. That speciality of Mithila is its art, its painting which is known as Mithila Painting or Madhubani painting. The word 'Madhubani' literally means 'forest of honey' (Madhur + Vani). The people, the culture, and everything here is so close to nature that even its paintings depict the essence of nature. The paintings are Mirrors of the culture that this city has been following for thousands of years.

History and Origin

The history of the painting can be protected back to the Ramayana. It is believed that King Janak of Mithila first commissioned rural artists to paint palace walls on the occasion of his daughter Sita's wedding to Lord Rama. To make the paint more attractive, shiny and realistic, artists mixed cow dung and rock salt with natural colors.

Discovery by the World

It came into the limelight after the massive earthquake of 1934. While inspecting the widespread destruction, British officer William G. Archer found Mithila paintings on the walls of destructed houses, noting similarities to the work of Miro and Picasso. He documented them, introducing Madhubani painting to the outside world.

Themes and Techniques

Paintings are mostly influenced by religious motifs and Indian beliefs. Central themes include love, fertility, and devotion. Common elements are lotus, bamboo, fish, tortoise, parrot, and deities like Krishna, Shiva, Rama, Durga, and Kali. The uniqueness lies in filling every inch of space; gaps are filled with flowers, birds, or geometric patterns.

Styles

There are distinct styles like Kachni (fine line art using monochrome colors like black and red), Bharni (filling subjects with vibrant solid colors), and Godna (tattoo style). Kohbar is a highly symbolic style used in the nuptial chamber to bless the newlyweds with fertility and prosperity.