The history of origin of paintings dates back to prehistoric times when ancient civilizations were still exploring new horizons in various arenas. From the earliest Bhimdetka paintings found on caves in Madhya Pradesh, to extremely meticulous expressions of this fine art today, paintings reveal an undying spirit of creative genius inherent in man.

Depending on different cults, beliefs, lands and philosophies followed by men folk of varying eras, the art of painting has been divided into myriad schools or types. Madhubani, Kangra, Pichwais, Kalamkari, Warli folk, Phad, Thanka and Pata Chitra are a few schools of art that boast of patronage since the Mughal era. Each of these traditional paintings depict images of gods and goddesses, excerpts from mythological stories, scenes pertaining to erstwhile royal houses and portrayals of scenes of everyday life. The techniques of rendering colors, the type of colors used, the base material used for painting and the varying effects employed to embellish diverse images, is what imparts a distinct style and ornamentation to these paintings.

The traditional Indian paintings have carved a niche for themselves as they not only embark the beauty but also the aesthetic value of the land to which it belongs. They place themselves at the highest position when it comes to the export of Indian art and crafts in the international domains.