Indian Folk Art Warli Paintings

Amongst the many tribal art traditions of India, Warli art stands out for its fine lines, texture, and scenes from the Indian countryside. The Warli painters are from Maharashtra, in western India. Their white line paintings with simple, direct figures have a close link to the cave paintings of their ancestors. For example, there are paintings in Ajanta and Ellora from many centuries ago. For the Warli painters who execute these masterpieces, daily life still involves the rigors of subsistence farming in the foothills of the Sahyadri range in the district of Thane. Working in the fields with the village in the background, their art is a reflection of the simple beauty of their agrarian lives. Each tribe or community in India has a special deity whom they hold dear. Though they believe in polytheistic religion, one god or goddess usually holds pride of place as the protector of the community. For the Warlis, the main goddess is Palghat, who oversees the bounty of nature. She is responsible for fertility of mankind as well and therefore invoked at the time of marriage. Given their agrarian lifestyle, and spiritual beliefs, Warli paintings depict scenes from their everyday worlds. Scenes from nature, farming activities, and jungle lore are a source of inspiration for these tribal painters.

Each painting has exquisite details of the trees, animals, and people of the countryside. Some of the most dramatic of these linear rice paste paintings are actually inside the huts of the Warlis. They dwell in square windowless huts made of wood, straw and mud. These dull and dreary brown huts are brightened up by the contrast of exquisite white line paintings. Today, Warli painters continue to pursue their traditional artwork, despite their exposure to modern, urbanized lifestyles. Their humble and reserved outlook allows them to focus on their beautiful paintings, while also drawing on the benefits of new income opportunities that have opened up to them due to the expanding Indian economy.