Mithila Paintings: Women’s Creativity Under Changing Perspectives

Abstracts: The article deals with the history and different styles of Mithila Paintings in the context of the role of women in it. It draws attention to the differences between the traditional wall and floor paintings and the canvas paintings, of modern day. It underlines the contribution of women to the development and popularity of Mithila paintings over many generations, and how they were brought into the painting tradition. It also shows how this painting tradition provided an opportunity to women in the Mithila region to garner additional income for the family when they were challenged by natural calamities such as drought. While describing the present status of the art form, the article calls for an adoption of appropriate measures to retain the tradition in its original form and vigour. From time immemorial, women in India have actively participated invarious forms of creativity, which explicate the relationship between nature, culture and the human psyche. In fact, their arts of creativity can be treated as a style of writing by which their emotions, expectations, freedom of thoughts, social and cultural limitations, worldviews, etc., find expression. Moreover, their significant role in some of the art forms present in man