Hi Everyone!! This article will share The Artists of Mithila – Madhubani Paintings Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of Bruno Goes Exploring, Peter of Haarlem and Palanquin Bearers so, you can check these posts as well.
The Artists of Mithila – Madhubani Paintings Questions & Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct option:
1. Folk art refers to paintings that are
(a) done on cave walls and floors.
(b) passed down the generations.
(c) made by the common people.
2. The tradition of Madhubani painting was kept alive by
(a) kings, nobles and common people.
(b) kings and the nobility.
(c) the Kayastha women.
3. Shashikala Devi learnt the art
(a) in an art school.
(b) by working in a museum.
(c) by observing the women in her family.
4. Mithila Art gets its special touch from
(a) the women of Mithila.
(b) the men and women.
(c) the Kayastha clan.
Question 2: Fill in the blanks.
1. Each puja called for a special kind of alpana.
2. The Kohabar is filled with figures of Shiva and Parvati.
3. Another popular form of Mithila art is the Kamaldah.
4. A gifted artist in the Mithila tradition was interviewed.
5. There is hardly any shading in Mithila painting.
Question 3: Write True or False for the following statements:
1. Kohabar is the only popular form of Mithila art – False
2. Mithila art is still very much popular part of our lives – True
3. Nirmal paintings are from Odisha – False
4. In India, every region has its own school of art – True
5. There is hardly any shading in Mithila painting – True
Question 4: How did humans in ancient times begin painting?
Answer: The humans in ancient times began painting on the cave walls and floors using colours from plants and flowers.
Question 5: Who is Shashikala Devi?
Answer: Shashikala Devi is a gifted artist in the Mithila tradition.
Question 6: Which are the traditional motifs used in Mithila paintings? What do they symbolize?
Answer: Mithila artists use various themes, symbols and subjects through motifs in their painting.
These motifs symbolize nature, hope, dreams, love, devotion and valour etc.
Question 7: How are Alpanas made?
Answer: Alpanas are drawn using ground rice mixed with water. Each puja or religious celebration calls for a special kind of alpana.
Question 8: What is the significance of the figure of gods, flowers and birds in a kohabar?
Answer: The Kohabar is filled with figures of Shiva and Parvati, lotus seeds, fish, birds, peacock, bumblebees, the sun, the moon, the planets and the sea. They are all supposed to be the witness to the marriage.
Question 9: Where do the artists source their colours from? Give examples.
Answer: The Mithila artists make their own colours. For red, plain sindoor mixed with milk, for yellow they use haldi and for green, juice extracted from fresh bean leaves is used. Black colour is not much used but when required they make it from soot mixed with kerosene oil.
Question 10: Why did Archer go to Mithila’s village? What did he notice then?
Answer: Mithila experienced a terrible earthquake in 1934. William Archer, the then local collector, went to inspect the damage and saw the wall and floor paintings for the first time. He was highly impressed by this beautiful art form.
Question 11: How did the paintings of women come into light?
Answer: In 1966, there was a drought in the region. The All India Handicrafts Board sent Bhaskar Kulkarni, an artist to Mithila. He encouraged the women to make paintings on paper to be sold to generate money for their families. This additional non-agricultural income encouraged women to produce paintings representing their traditions on handmade paper.
So, these were The Artists of Mithila – Madhubani Paintings Questions & Answers.