What Is Madhubani Painting?

Madhubani paintings from the Mithila area of northern Bihar state as well as the region over the border in Nepal are maybe the most well-known style of Indian folk art. Painting is a crucial component of Mithila women's education, and it culminates in the painting of the walls of the Khobar, or nuptial chamber, on the occasion of a wedding. The women of Mithila have been decorating their homes with intricate, linear designs for centuries on the occasion of marriages and other ceremonies. The paintings of the Khobar Ghar are based on mythical, folk, and tantric iconography, but love and fertility are always the primary themes.

What Are The Various Forms Of Madhubani Paintings?

There are various forms of Madhubani paintings: 

• Bharni
• Katchni
• Godna
• Kohbar

What Are The Various Themes Of Madhubani Paintings? 

Madhubani art primarily focuses on three themes: religion, social situations, and natural phenomena.

Religion

Hindu mythological characters and settings from sacred texts are frequently depicted in art, and well-known deities like Radha and Krishna, Shiva, Ganesha, Saraswati, and Laxmi are among the featured deities.

Social

Scenes from regular rural Indian life are depicted in Madhubani paintings in a charming manner, from crops and bazaar to the king's court and kids playing, wedding ceremonies are particularly popular because they convey sentiments of fertility and love.

Nature

One fundamental element of Madhubani paintings is the splendor and profusion of nature. The moon, the sun, various birds and animals, the treasured Tulsi plant, and Banyan trees are some of the most cherished Madhubani paintings.

In which state is Madhubani painting popular?

The eastern Terai of Nepal and the north of Bihar both fall under the Mithila area.

Women painters from the Mithila region have traditionally created Madhubani paintings. Every mother instructs her daughter in the technique of creating Madhubani paintings in their little community. Women in the Mithila region have been decorating their homes with Madhubani paintings since the earliest times to commemorate events like religious festivals, births, and marriages.

How to take care of Madhubani Paintings? 

The paints and instruments used by Madhubani artists are made from organic, locally sourced materials, everything from obtaining colors from flowers to making brushes out of bamboo sticks. Given how much work it takes to produce natural colors, it is crucial to treat Madhubani paintings made with them with great care. 

Here are some pointers for looking after them:

• Always use glass frames when framing Madhubani paintings created with natural colors.
• Don't use water to clean the artwork.
• Do not clean the paintwork with solvents.
• Add a layer of varnish paint to the paintings before framing.
• Use a microfiber cloth to gently dust off the artwork when it needs to be cleaned of its dust.

The Demand of Madhubani Paintings in the United States: 

Madhubani paintings are getting attention from all around the world due to their simplicity and skill in telling stories via intricate paintings. According to the Madhubani painter, many artists from Bihar have found success and reputation in the United States of America as a result of their paintings. Artists have established themselves in the international art community, and their paintings fetch high prices in the US. India is revered around the world for its folk art.