Analysis of Buddhist Art - Essay Example

According to the research "Buddhism art" findings Buddhism art has been one of the prominent forms of art in areas traditionally known as Western Central Asia and Eastern Central Asia and it had an important relationship with the artistic traditions of Ladakh, Tibet, and Nepal. The historical evolvement of the movement was mainly due to the various essential aspects of the movement which influenced the progress of art in the future. Analyzing the nature of this art movement, it becomes lucid that in its first, essentially Indian, aniconic phase of development, Buddhist art avoided direct representations of the Buddha, and its iconic phase was characterized by the direct representations of the Buddha.

“Anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha started to emerge from the 1st century CE in northern India. The two main centers of creation have been identified as Gandhara in today’s Punjab, in Pakistan, and the region of Mathura, in central northern India.” (Buddhist art) One of the major influences on the art of Gandhara was the interaction with Greek culture due to the conquests of Alexander the Great in 332 BCE and it led to the development of Greco-Buddhist art. Thus, there is clear evidence of Greek artistic influence in the Gandharan Buddhist sculptures and the Gandharan school of sculpture has, artistically, contributed to the wavy hair, drapery covering both shoulders, shoes and sandals, acanthus leaf decorations, etc in Buddhist art.

Buddhist art sprang from the religious tradition of Buddhism. . Analyzing the nature of this art movement, it becomes lucid that in its first, essentially Indian, aniconic phase of development, Buddhist art avoided direct representations of the Buddha, and its iconic phase was characterized by the direct representations of the Buddha. "Anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha started to emerge from the 1st century CE in northern India. The two main centers of creation have been identified as Gandhara in today's Punjab, Pakistan, and the region of Mathura, in central northern India.

" (Buddhist art) One of the major influences on the art of Gandhara was the interaction with Greek culture due to the conquests of Alexander the Great in 332 BCE and it led to the development of Greco-Buddhist art. Thus, there is clear evidence of Greek artistic influence in the Gandharan Buddhist sculptures and the Gandharan school of sculpture has, artistically, contributed to the wavy hair, drapery covering both shoulders, shoes and sandals, acanthus leaf decorations, etc in Buddhist art.

In a profound analysis of Buddhist art, one recognizes that several important artists from the early stages of its development have contributed to the evolvement of this art tradition. Significantly, Buddhist art sprang from the religious tradition of Buddhism and this art tradition is closely related to the practices of the religion. Thus, the major works in paintings of this tradition depicted dragons, flowers, and Buddha himself, while other forms of Buddhist art include statues, shrines, tapestries, and various other forms and textures of art.

It is important to note that very little is known about the major ancient Buddhist artists who have contributed to the development of this art tradition.