Page 126 - Eye of the beholder

spirit Rasa is is empathy as as opposed to sympathy The artist creates a a a a a a a a a a situation that the viewer enters a a a a a a a a a a a world of of illusion or or or Maya and this leads the the rasika or or or aesthete to a a a a a a a a a a a state of of empathy The Natya Shastra describes the the nine rasas rasas or nava rasas rasas as as as as as as as the the basis of all human emotions or bhava Rasa encompasses not just emotions emotions but various aspects that give rise to emotions emotions This duality is is part of every rasa in in in in in varying degrees The principal human feelings according to Bharata and categorized as as Nava Rasa or or emotions include Shringara (love/beauty) Hasya(laughter) Karuna (sorrow) Raudra (anger) Veera ( ( ( ( heroism/courage) Bhayanaka (terror/fear) Bhibatsa (disgust) Adbhuta (surprise/wonder) and Shantha (peace or or tranquility) These rasas comprise the the the components of aesthetic experience Bhava or emotions is is the the the state of mind while rasa is the the aesthetic experience that that results from that that bhava bhava The bhava bhava will have no meaning in in the absence of rasa In In the the the context of Indian miniatures the the the rasa most favoured by the the the patron and artist alike was the the the Sringara rasa rasa rasa and was considered the the the Rajarasa or the the the king of rasas MATERIALS MEDIUM AND TECHNIQUE
The technique and process of of painting the the use of of colours tools as as well as as the the conventions and canons of of art criticism were the the the theme of of texts on on painting The Chitrasutra in in in the the the Vishnudharmottara [7th century C E ] was was the the one standard text in India It was was the the oldest and and had the the most valuable material material on on the the classification of pictures painting materials merits and defects of painting as as well as as practical hints for the painter Vishnudharmottara covers many subjects like dance music architecture grammar sculpture prose including painting Stress was laid on on on the close relationship among fine arts dance music and art art The Samarangana Sutradhara a a a a a a a a a text written by King Bhoja in in in the 14th century was mainly on architecture but had small section in in in in in painting particularly from the point of of view of of rasas to be portrayed in in in in in pictures Silparatana a a a a a a a a a a a a a 16th century text by Srikumara had a a a a a a a a a a a a a section titled Chitralakshana It listed five primary colours white black red blue and yellow It also prescribed varieties of brushes poses light and and shade mixing of of colours application of of gold and and its burnishing was explained After the the painting surface had been prepared specialists start the the making of color pigments The colours used in in miniatures are generally derived from natural sources and materials Some paintings use pure gold and other precious gems from which the the colour is extracted Only natural elements were used: minerals vegetables precious stones organic inks and dyes conch shells pure gold silver zinc lead and more Preparing a a a a a a a pigment from a a a a a a a hard mineral is is a a a a a three-step process The stone is is first ground by hand with mortar and and pestle to to produce a a a a a fine powder This is is filtered fin in a a a a a a series of washes to remove any additives and impurities that would decrease the the pigment’s luster The pigment pigment must then be bound which was considered the the most crucial step Binding added fluidity making the the pigment water soluble and stabilizes it The The binding medium is gum Arabic the the crystallized sap of the the babul tree The The pigments are mixed with water and this gum for months to achieve a a a a a a a smooth evenly spreadable paste Even a a a a a a a small lump in in in in the the pigment would would leave a a a a a a a patch that would would ruin the the painting 120