Color, then, has a dual function: it fulfills aesthetic requirements, and imparts a certain meaning and tone to a work of art.
What Colors Stand For: Color Symbolism
The significance of colors depends on the cultural and social scenario they are being used in. That is to say, the same color can stand for different things depending on the situation it is being used in.
The color white , which is often associated with purity, truth and innocence, is in China, associated with death.
Consider the color blue:
-In China, blue signifies immortality
-In Colombia, it is associated with soap
-For Hindus, blue is the color of Krishna
-For the Jews, blue symbolizes holiness
-In the Middle East, blue is a protective color
Themes-
The subject matter of most of the paintings at Ajanta is the life and teachings of Buddha. This covers various lives and incarnations of Buddha as told in Jataka stories. Matching a similarity with the Flemish Renaissance Paintings in which the stories are richly depicted in the settings of the artists’ world and whole mood is of life and activity. Calligraphic lines drawn at the bottom or the any other corner do a nice follow up to the painting.
Paintings can be classified in to portraits, narrative illustrations and decorative ornamentation of great variety. The rocks here in Ajanta are cut in the shapes of Chaitya, Stupa and Vihara- all are important religious places of Buddhists.
The story of discovery of Ajanta can be traced far back as fourth decade of 19th century by a subaltern Englishmen. Since then many scholars and enthusiasts have done a great deal of job in bringing forth the hidden mystery of Ajanta the natural painting gallery in India. Some of them are Sir James Alexander (1834), James Fergusson (1843), Major Robert Gill (1857), Mr. Griffiths (1896), Lady Harringham (1911) and Sir John Marshall (1928).
Ethnic Paintings makes a sincere effort to take you through the journey of Ajanta Paintings in particular and Indian paintings in general.
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