Fine art in India has evolved through a long history shaped by shifts in empire, colonialism, and modern nationalistic spirit. Its earliest foundations can be traced to the mural traditions of sites like Ajanta Caves (2nd century BCE-6th century CE), where intricate relief work, colourful frescoes were combined spiritual narratives.

 With progressing times, courts later patronised the schools of Mughal painting and Rajput miniature painting, blending Persian influences with indigenous aesthetics and techniques. The era of colonization brought European techniques to the Indian subcontinent. With the Swadeshi Movement gaining momentum by 1905, Indian artists attempted to revive the cultural identities suppressed by the British, rejecting the style of the Company paintings and the work of Raja Ravi Varma and his followers, created as an Indo-European visual identity.

 Thus, was created what is known today as the Bengal School of Art, led by the reworked Asian styles, with an emphasis on Indian nationalism. Other artists of the Tagore family, as well as new artists of the early 20th century such as Amrita Shergil were responsible for introducing Avant-garde western styles into Indian Art. Other important artists like Jamini Roy and later S.H. Raza took inspiration from folk traditions, creating visual entities with diverse aesthetic languages and forms.