Mithila or Madhubani Painting, Couple in Sedan Chair

In this Mithila painting a man & woman are being carried in a sedan chair by two bearers.

This painting is in lovely soft shades of pink, yellow and grey. Peacocks, birds of love, are overhead, large lotus like flowers below.

Mithila is a region in Bihar, a state somewhat north west of Kolkatta. Madhubani is a district in the Mithila region where the paintings originated. They were traditionally painting on freshly plastered walls of houses and temples.

About 50 years ago, with help from NGO's, the women who created these paintings started to paint on paper and Madhubani paintings are now an internationally recognised art form, traditional and essential to that region.

The paintings portray cultural and spiritual life of the village, popular subjects include Krishna & Radha and scenes from the Ramayana. The paintings are alive with the natural world of trees, plants and bird life. 

They are painted with natural dyes from plants and minerals, the brushes are often simple wooden sticks.

Dimensions: 75 x 50cm.