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Cave paintings are nothing but reflections of society. Illustrate the statement with suitable examples.
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Solution
Answer:
Introduction: Cave paintings which date back to prehistoric times have been part of historic analysis. These paintings along with other excavations from cave sites helped historians to construct a fairly accurate picture about the various facets of the lives of primitive people and their society in terms of their lifestyle, food habits, daily activities, socialization, religious beliefs etc. Similarly, cave paintings dating back to medieval times prominently depict both secular and religious themes.
Body:
Since prehistoric times, humans have been trying to express themselves through paintings and drawings on the walls/roofs of caves they dwelt in, Also, they may have tried to make their dwelling spots look beautiful with colourful visual records of day to day activities.
In India, we find cave paintings in various sites like Kumaon Hills, Lakhudiyar, Bhimbetka etc. spanning different periods like Upper Paleolithic (36000BC-9000BC), Mesolithic (9000BC-4000BC) and Chalcolithic(2000BC-700BC) times. If we consider cave paintings of the Medieval period, these can be found in sites like Ajanta, Ellora, Bagh, Sittanavasal, etc.
Some of the inferences from these cave paintings are as follows:
Depiction of Economic and political life
Various hunting scenes depict the dependency on animal foods. In some paintings, men tend to use techniques with traps and snares to catch animals highlighting hunting skills. There have been instances where men are adorned with headdresses, masks etc. depicting agility and adaptability to survive.
In one of Bhimbetka's paintings, groups of people are shown hunting a bison (Big Game Hunting). Injured men are depicted lying scattered on the ground which in turn shows continuous engagement with animals (Hunter-gatherer culture).
It depicts various activities like gathering fruit or honey from trees, women grinding and preparing food indicate day to day activities of these people as well as the division of labour.
Many of the paintings reflect a feeling of tenderness and love for a few animals like sambhars, horses, goats etc. which in turn indicates the beginning of domestication of animals.
Depiction of Family and Social life
Pictures of men, women and children provide evidence of the presence of the family system.
Socialization process has been elaborated through paintings of community dances which became a prominent theme with time. Children are painted running, jumping and playing with toys.
For example - The cave paintings of Bhimbetka from the Mesolithic era depicts men, women and children in a sort of family life.
The dancing scene from the Lakhudiyar rock painting found in Uttarakhand also depicts social life in the chalcolithic period. Here hand-linked figures in dancing mode are shown.
Depiction of Religious life
Some paintings reported far from the rock shelter are of religious importance, which is mainly high up on rock shelters or close to the ceilings of rock shelters, so that people would be able to notice them from a distance.
Depiction of Secular themes can be found in the cave paintings of Sittanavasal (ancient Jain Monastery) which include animals, fish, ducks, people collecting lotuses from a pond, two dancing figures, etc. These in turn narrate the day to day activities of people.
Paintings of the Medieval period mostly comprise Murals and reflect an emphasis on naturalism. Most of the paintings seen in the Ajanta Caves revolve around the life and teachings of Lord Buddha through Jataka stories. These are entrenched into the lives of people for living a disciplined and harmonious life.
Other important discoveries
In the painting of the Yogimatha (in Odisha) we have found some scripts which resemble one of the present Odia scripts. Thus, the origin of present language and scripts can be traced through various Cave paintings.
In Prehistoric paintings of Bhimbetka in Madhya pradesh, Tekkalkotta in Karnataka etc. one can see the depiction of community dance. This also reveals that prehistoric people were aware of music as dance is not possible without some kind of music.
Paintings in cave monuments such as Ellora images show dancers and goddesses wearing what appears to be a dhoti wrap, a predecessor to the modern sari.
Conclusion:
Cave paintings of prehistoric times make us understand the evolution of human civilization. It also reminds us that the basic instinct of human survival has remained unchanged and harmonious existence with nature should be the norm of society. Later cave paintings (Medieval) resonate various secular and religious themes which in turn provides a glimpse of the day to day lives of people.
Introduction: Cave paintings which date back to prehistoric times have been part of historic analysis. These paintings along with other excavations from cave sites helped historians to construct a fairly accurate picture about the various facets of the lives of primitive people and their society in terms of their lifestyle, food habits, daily activities, socialization, religious beliefs etc. Similarly, cave paintings dating back to medieval times prominently depict both secular and religious themes.
Body:
Since prehistoric times, humans have been trying to express themselves through paintings and drawings on the walls/roofs of caves they dwelt in, Also, they may have tried to make their dwelling spots look beautiful with colourful visual records of day to day activities.
In India, we find cave paintings in various sites like Kumaon Hills, Lakhudiyar, Bhimbetka etc. spanning different periods like Upper Paleolithic (36000BC-9000BC), Mesolithic (9000BC-4000BC) and Chalcolithic(2000BC-700BC) times. If we consider cave paintings of the Medieval period, these can be found in sites like Ajanta, Ellora, Bagh, Sittanavasal, etc.
Some of the inferences from these cave paintings are as follows:
Depiction of Economic and political life
Various hunting scenes depict the dependency on animal foods. In some paintings, men tend to use techniques with traps and snares to catch animals highlighting hunting skills. There have been instances where men are adorned with headdresses, masks etc. depicting agility and adaptability to survive.
In one of Bhimbetka's paintings, groups of people are shown hunting a bison (Big Game Hunting). Injured men are depicted lying scattered on the ground which in turn shows continuous engagement with animals (Hunter-gatherer culture).
It depicts various activities like gathering fruit or honey from trees, women grinding and preparing food indicate day to day activities of these people as well as the division of labour.
Many of the paintings reflect a feeling of tenderness and love for a few animals like sambhars, horses, goats etc. which in turn indicates the beginning of domestication of animals.
Depiction of Family and Social life
Pictures of men, women and children provide evidence of the presence of the family system.
Socialization process has been elaborated through paintings of community dances which became a prominent theme with time. Children are painted running, jumping and playing with toys.
For example - The cave paintings of Bhimbetka from the Mesolithic era depicts men, women and children in a sort of family life.
The dancing scene from the Lakhudiyar rock painting found in Uttarakhand also depicts social life in the chalcolithic period. Here hand-linked figures in dancing mode are shown.
Depiction of Religious life
Some paintings reported far from the rock shelter are of religious importance, which is mainly high up on rock shelters or close to the ceilings of rock shelters, so that people would be able to notice them from a distance.
Depiction of Secular themes can be found in the cave paintings of Sittanavasal (ancient Jain Monastery) which include animals, fish, ducks, people collecting lotuses from a pond, two dancing figures, etc. These in turn narrate the day to day activities of people.
Paintings of the Medieval period mostly comprise Murals and reflect an emphasis on naturalism. Most of the paintings seen in the Ajanta Caves revolve around the life and teachings of Lord Buddha through Jataka stories. These are entrenched into the lives of people for living a disciplined and harmonious life.
Other important discoveries
In the painting of the Yogimatha (in Odisha) we have found some scripts which resemble one of the present Odia scripts. Thus, the origin of present language and scripts can be traced through various Cave paintings.
In Prehistoric paintings of Bhimbetka in Madhya pradesh, Tekkalkotta in Karnataka etc. one can see the depiction of community dance. This also reveals that prehistoric people were aware of music as dance is not possible without some kind of music.
Paintings in cave monuments such as Ellora images show dancers and goddesses wearing what appears to be a dhoti wrap, a predecessor to the modern sari.
Conclusion:
Cave paintings of prehistoric times make us understand the evolution of human civilization. It also reminds us that the basic instinct of human survival has remained unchanged and harmonious existence with nature should be the norm of society. Later cave paintings (Medieval) resonate various secular and religious themes which in turn provides a glimpse of the day to day lives of people.
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