The artistic traditions of Orissa are among the oldest and richest in the subcontinent. Recent archaeological fieldwork has revealed several sites from the Stone Age to the Early Historic period. The history of Buddhism in the region goes back to the time of Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE) with a continuous art heritage up to the 13th century. Apart from sculpture and rockcut caves, Orissa developed a distinguished tradition of temple architecture. The Orissan genius has also been manifest in painting, crafts, and dance, including the varied tribal cultural expressions.
Despite such extraordinary achievements, no single volume provides an overview of the diverse contributions of generations of Orissan artists. As the accompanying table of contents demonstrates, this book is wide-ranging in scope, covering all periods and many forms of art. Apart from emphasizing the past, the essays focus on present artistic activities, traditional as well as the modern.
