India's Handicraft Economy
Madhubani and Folk Art
How folk art traditions like Madhubani, Warli and Pattachitra became sources of income, the role of women artists, and how commercial demand changed them.
Indian folk art has become a source of income.
Madhubani
- From Mithila in Bihar.
- Traditionally painted on walls by women.
- After the 1966-68 drought, a government programme encouraged painting on paper for sale.
Warli
Warli tribal art from Maharashtra uses simple white figures.
Pattachitra
Pattachitra scroll paintings from Odisha and Bengal.
Recognition
Artists like Sita Devi and Ganga Devi gained national awards.
Commercialisation
Folk art now appears on sarees, stationery and walls.
Concerns
Artists often earn little while copies sell widely.
The paper painting
A Madhubani artist paints on handmade paper and sells through an online store.
Thinking folk art has always been sold
Madhubani shifted to paper after the 1960s drought.
Key takeaways
- Madhubani comes from Mithila.
- It shifted to paper after the 1966-68 drought.
- Warli and Pattachitra are other traditions.
- Copies undercut artists.
No recording for this one yet - EconReader can read it aloud for you.