Oil Painting in Modern India: A Continuing Artistic Tradition
The oil painting shown is by Poonam Southey, an Indian artist settled in Delhi. The painting reflects the enduring appeal of oil painting in India. Depicting a charming old-world streetscape with a sunlit courtyard, flowering plants, and a traditional house façade, the work showcases the rich textures and vibrant colours that make oil painting such a captivating medium. While contemporary Indian artists continue to explore modern themes and techniques, paintings like this demonstrate how traditional subjects and architectural scenes remain a source of artistic inspiration.
Oil painting has a long history in India. During the British era, it was widely practised by colonial officials, military officers, travellers, and amateur artists who often painted landscapes, monuments, and scenes of daily life as a leisure pursuit. By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Indian artists increasingly embraced the medium, adapting it to local subjects and sensibilities. After Independence, a new generation of Indian painters expanded the scope of oil painting, transforming it from a colonial pastime into a vibrant form of artistic expression. Today, works such as this painting by Poonam Southey continue that tradition, blending technical skill with personal vision while celebrating the beauty of everyday surroundings. Click image to enlarge.
Did you know – during the British era, many colonial officers and their families took up painting as a hobby, creating landscapes and scenes of India that are now valuable historical records.
