Couple at market

Santhals, amongst the larger tribal communities in India, are spread across the states of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

While traditionally they painted the walls of their huts with bright murals in earthen colours, over time they took to painting on paper. Often using primary colours, Santhal paintings are characterized with a simplicity, where human forms are sinuous and flowy. Like many naïve art schools, they paint human bodies in profile while objects are painted in a front view. Love and family are important themes that come back often in their works.