A sketch to Orient world

Oriental paintings, the term found its origin from the word orient. Orient and Oriental, both the words are a metonym used for the reference of Asian countries, near east, middles east and Far East. The paintings related to the Eastern world are categorized as Oriental paintings. Basically, the term ‘Oriental Art’ was introduced by the Eurocentric world and it became popular with time. Oriental paintings are the significant part of the Oriental Art.

The contemporary paintings that have originated from traditional Asian culture and reflect the society, in which they are produced, are known as Oriental paintings. The paintings related to Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Indian culture along with Central and South Eastern Asia, all can be referred as Oriental paintings. Different countries of Asia have different cultures and the different culture has originated from the different practices followed. Oriental paintings are a corrugation of all the different Eastern cultures.

Read More: A Guide to Islamic Art

In the era of colonization, the European countries experienced a strange kind of romanticism towards the Oriental ways of life. This romanticism laid foundation to the popularity of these paintings. Western people always hold a strong urge or curiosity towards the Oriental world. The paintings are an excellent medium to explore the world.  

Oriental paintings focus on the sensual and erotic aspect of the Eastern world. They imbibe the stereotype structure of the non-Western world. The exotic, quaint and mysterious paintings became so popular with the time. These paintings are still referred as the most debated trends of 18th and 19th century in Europe. In that era, the paintings were made on some typical subjects like slaves, slave markets, Bedouin warriors, mosques, nudes and harems. These paintings represented the exotic beauty of everything happening around. A few painters took the theme of cruelty, war and violence and popularized it as oriental subjects.

Although, this painting style was pushed to the margins by the start of 20th century yet it has regained its popularity in last few decades. Over the time, this painting style was notably adopted by the European artists and was developed an academic art. The taste of Oriental themes is an integral part of European Art.  

Oriental paintings are an integral part of Indian Art and culture since long. These paintings redefine the Indian culture in a totally different manner. The earliest Indian paintings were drawn on rocks. You can still see them in the different parts of the country. It dates back to the era of Ajanta, Ellora and other murals.

The Indian painting style has evolved over years and has become a fusion of various traditions. The aesthetic continuum of the art extends from pre-historic era to till date. Initially, the paintings were based on religious subjects only.