[Mission 2024] STATIC QUIZ, 29 September 2023 – Art and Culture

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Apabhramsa School of Art

This school traces its origin to Gujarat and Mewar region in Rajasthan. It was the predominant school of painting in western India during 11th to 15th century. The most common themes of these paintings were Jain and in the later period the Vaishanava School appropriated them too.

The features of the human figures depicted in the paintings have fish-shaped bulging eyes; a pointed nose and a double chin.

The animal and bird figurines in the paintings are represented as toys. The most famous example is of Kalpasutra and the Kalakacharya Katha from 15th century.

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

Kuchipudi has its roots in the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra. Like all major classical dances of India, it was also developed as a religious art linked to traveling bards, temples and spiritual beliefs. The Kuchipudi style was conceived by Siddhendra Yogi, a talented Vaishnava poet of 17th century.

It begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesha followed by nritta (non-narrative and abstract dancing); shabdam (narrative dancing) and natya. The dance is accompanied by song which is typically Carnatic music. The singer is accompanied by musical instruments like mridangam, violin, flute and tambura.

It is one of the major Indian classical dances.

Solution: b)

Thanjavur painting is a classical South Indian painting style, which was inaugurated from the town of Thanjavur (anglicized as Tanjore) and spread across the adjoining and geographically contiguous Tamil country.

The art form draws its immediate resources and inspiration from way back about 1600 AD, a period when the Nayakas of Thanjavur under the suzerainty of the Vijayanagara Rayas encouraged art—chiefly, classical dance and music—as well as literature, both in Telugu and Tamil and painting of chiefly Hindu religious subjects in temples. It is distinguished by its famous gold coating.

The paintings are mostly of Gods and Goddesses because this art of painting flourished at a time when fine-looking and striking temples were being constructed by rulers of several dynasties.

Solution: a)

Madhubani art is practiced in the Mithila region, Bihar. Painting is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks, etc. Using natural dyes and pigments, and is characterised by eye-catching geometrical patterns.

Pattachitra or Patachitra is a general term for traditional, clothbased scroll painting, based in the eastern Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal. Pattachitra art form is known for its intricate details as well as
mythological narratives and folktales inscribed in it.

The Patuas are an artisan community found in the state of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha in India and parts of Bangladesh.

Solution: d)

The “Senia” style of Sitar playing started with the legendary great master of Sitar, Ustad Maseet Sen from the family of Tansen, the originator of “Maseetkhani” style.

The word “Senia” is related to Tansen, the father of Indian Classical Music. The word “Gharana” implies a style of music. The followers of Tansen’s school of music are widely known as the followers of “Senia gharana” (i.e. “Seniya” style/school of music).