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Asian miniature
painting is an ancient art, with its origins in the cultures of
Persia and Central Asia, and the Indian sub-continent. Originally
used to illustrate classic texts, folk tales and epic poems, it
gradually evolved into a unique art-form unto itself, with its own
"old masters" and different stylistic schools.
Unlike European art of
the Renaissance and after, Asian miniature made no attempt at
realism, perspective or sense of scale. Their stories are told on a
flat plane, without concern for light source, anatomy or even human
emotion.
This work is
completely narrative in character, telling its tales in symbolic
ways through the use of representative or iconic figures rendered in
minute detail. Asian miniature paintings are "read" from
right to left, as Arabic calligraphy is written, and usually from
bottom to top... from the earth and sea to the heavens.
It requires a
different approach to understanding than European art. One must
examine each item in the composition very carefully - these symbols
were not put there just for decoration. Every element is part of the
story, "from the fish in the sea to the moon above". The
leaves on a tree may be as important as the fold of a garment of the
sword of a conqueror.
The enjoyment of this
work comes in the "reading" of each small gem of art, of
learning the tale that it tells, of recognizing the clues that the
artist has given you, of fantasizing a bit into an exotic past in a
fabled land.
Masterpieces of Asian
miniature painting can be seen in most of the world's great museums,
and it is indeed fortunate that this artistic heritage is still with
us, that young artists are still learning from the masters, so that
we may continue to enjoy this unique art-form.
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...click to enlarge... 
...click to enlarge...
...click to enlarge...
