page_title: Fine Arts of Assam
section_title: Paintings
hierarchical_section_title: Fine Arts of Assam / Paintings
caption_attribution_description: English: Traditional painting from Assam
context_page_description: Fine Arts of Assam has extremely rich tradition.
context_section_description: Painting is an ancient tradition of Assam. The ancient practices can be known from the accounts of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang (7th century CE). The account mentions that Bhaskaravarma, the king of Kamarupa has gifted several items to Harshavardhana, the king of Magadha including paintings and painted objects, some of which were on Assamese silk. Many of the manuscripts available from the Middle Ages bear excellent examples of traditional paintings. The most famous of such medieval works are available in the Hastividyarnava (A Treatise on Elephants), the Chitra Bhagawata and in the Gita Govinda. The medieval painters used locally manufactured painting materials such as the colours of hangool and haital. The medieval Assamese literature also refers to chitrakars and patuas. Traditional Assamese paintings have been influenced by the motifs and designs in the medieval works such as the Chitra Bhagawata.
  There are several renowned contemporary painters in Assam. The Guwahati Art College in Guwahati is  one of the government institution for tertiary education. The Department of Visual Arts Assam University (Central University) is one of the only department of North East India which along with the specialization programme in Applied Arts, Graphics, and Paintings have PhD programme in Visual Arts. Moreover, there are several art-societies and non-government initiatives across the state and the Guwahati  Artists' Guild is a front-runner organisation based in Guwahati.
caption: Traditional painting, Assam
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