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Klee, Miro and Picasso. Mithila painting received
official recognition in 1975 when the President
of India conferred the Padma Shri award to
Jagdamba Devi of Jitbarpur village near Madhu-
bani. Before painting on paper was introduced 40
years ago, most women who were Mithila artists
were confined to their homes and preoccupied
with household chores, child-rearing, managing
domestic rituals and performing ritual wall-
painting. Painting on paper for commercial pur-
poses has changed this dramatically. Aside from
generating important new family income, some
women have gained local, national and even
international recognition. Today Mithila artists
are being invited to exhibitions across India and
to Europe, the United States and Japan, no longer
as “folk” artists but as “contemporary” artists.

Compiled by Elena Shtereva