While many solid ground paintings will have almost no additional color, many artists vary the palette with light washes and heavily applied pigments, which introduce tonal variations and convey a stronger sense of volume. Each of the three ground colors is used for its emotional connotations. Red is for alarm, power, and resolve. Black is for caution, fear, and protection. Gold is for wonder, wealth, and opulence. The emotions of these colors combine with the paintings’ subjects to impart a powerful psychological message. Rarely has religious painting explored the suggestive power of color and line with such extraordinary visual expressiveness.

Sign up for our newsletter

Your gateway to Himalayan art and its insights, with stories and news from the Rubin.

Discover artworks, articles, and more by typing a search term above, selecting a term below, or exploring common concepts in Himalayan art.