Reflecting the birth of Christ in Indian art; From the splendor of the Mughal court to the native colors

Art is always a reflection of the cultures, beliefs and influences of the environment around the artists. While Christianity and its key events, such as the birth of Jesus Christ (PBUH), have inspired Western painters for centuries, Indian artists have also addressed this issue with their own visual language. From the Mughal court, where artists blended Christian themes with elements of Islamic art, to artists who combined indigenous Indian styles with Christian themes, the narrative of Christianity in Indian art has taken on a unique form.

Each of the artists, inspired by their cultural and social backgrounds and by combining elements of Indian art with Christian themes, have created works that, in addition to being loyal to Cultural roots also communicate with the universal language of art. In this short article, we will introduce some paintings from the history of Indian art that depict the birth of Jesus Christ (PBUH) from a completely local and native point of view.

How Indian artists depicted the birth of Jesus Christ:

The Birth of Jesus Christ in Western Art

As an important event in the Bible, the birth of Jesus Christ (PBUH) has been the subject of many paintings by Western artists. These artists, often using beautiful ideas and creativity common in their culture, depicted this event on canvas. These Western works are among the most popular examples of Christian art and have helped shape the world’s perception of this sacred event; But at the same time, they have unconsciously made people outside the western culture have a lesser role in influencing this image.

Mughal court in the scene of Christ’s birth

However, over the centuries, Indian artists have tried to portray their own vision of the event, painting the birth of Jesus (pbuh) and other Christian subjects in their own unique indigenous styles. Some of these artists have done this consciously and others unconsciously; But the final result is a collection of works that give new life to the narrative of the birth of Christ (PBUH) and even Christianity.

_{18th century Mughal style painting of the Holy Mary; The work in the British Museum; Artist Name: Unknown}

The Mughal emperor, Muhammad Jalaluddin Akbar, is known for introducing Christianity to northern India. By inviting “Jesuit” missionaries to attend his court, he provided the basis for getting to know this religion. These missionaries, who brought holy texts and European works of art with Christian themes, influenced the painters of the Mughal court. Also, they ordered numerous wall paintings with Christian themes from Akbar and his successors; In the meantime, some court painters also started to add elements of Islamic art to these works.

Neha Vermani, a historian of South Asia, talks about one of the paintings made by Mughal court artists in which Emperor Jahangir is present in the scene of the birth of Jesus Christ; A scene that traditionally includes the Virgin Mary, Joseph the Carpenter and Jesus as a baby. He says about this:

The Mongol rulers saw themselves as a just kingdom; Those who were able to maintain harmony and balance in their territories; They considered themselves world rulers. Allowing the coexistence of different religions was an integral part of the image they had of themselves and wanted to leave behind.

_{The painting of the Holy Mary and her baby in 1630 and influenced by Islamic art from the British Library archive; Artist Name: Unknown}

Jesus Christ with Santali identity

Santali is the name of one of the ethnic groups that live in India and Bangladesh and inhabit the states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal in India as well as in various parts of Bangladesh.

Jamini Roy, who was born in 1887 in the Indian state of West Bengal, is known for creating a unique visual language. He combined elements of Bengali folk art and Kalighat paintings; Kalighat painting is a special art style that was formed near a famous temple of the same name in the city of Calcutta.

Ashish Anand, CEO and Executive Director of DAG Art Company says:

Art critic WG Archer once pointed out that Christ represented a Santhal figure for Jamini Roy.

_{Painting of the birth of Jesus (PBUH); Illustrator Name: Jamini Roy}

Ashish Anand further explains:

The simplicity of Jesus Christ’s life and his sacrifice impressed Roy. This made his paintings with Christian themes at least as important as his works with Hindu mythological themes. All of these works were created in the folk style of modernism, which he made his own in a special and unique way.

Virgin Mary with Indian cover

Angelo de Fonseca, born in 1902 in the western state of Goa, is known for creating unique Christian iconography that combined Eastern and Western influences with the native sensibilities of his homeland. . In his paintings, the Virgin Mary is no longer depicted as a fair-skinned maiden in a blue dress; Rather, it is seen in the form of an Indian woman with brown skin and dressed in a “sari” (the traditional dress of Indian women), who wears the traditional jewelry of married Hindu women.

Biblical scenes of the Bible are recreated in local contexts and use vernacular symbols and elements that are familiar and comprehensible to Indian audiences. Through his art, Fonseca tried to challenge the narrative of the West as the cradle of beauty and artistic creativity.

Rinald D’Souza, director of the Xavier Center of Historical Research in Goa, says:

Fonseca wanted to place Christianity (widely seen as a Western religious tradition) in the context of the Indian subcontinent. It was this concern that made his watercolors depict Christianity in a new and native way.

_{Watercolor painting on paper in 1952; Illustrator name: Angelo da Fonseca}

Are you interested in art history? What do you think about combining modernism with Islamic and Hindu motifs? Did you notice the paintings of Indian artists? Please inform Kajaro and its users of your valuable opinion.