Abstract:

Cumulative cultural transmission preserves traditional knowledge and practices for generations, yet this phenomenon is largely understudied in Asian artistic traditions. Our talk aims to describe the cultural transmission process within the miniature painting community in Rajasthan, India. The apprenticeship model in miniature painting provides a unique context for studying how the ritualization of acquiring mastery manifests through procedural rigidity, conformity, and religious integration. Artists (N=262) ranging from novices to experts were interviewed to examine the extent to which the acquisition of mastery is ritualized. The results revealed that novice artists adhere more closely to the chronological order of prescribed steps in producing miniature paintings than their more expert counterparts. Most artists agreed that novices should conform to traditional aesthetics more than experts. Mastery of technical skills and extensive knowledge of culture and religion were deemed essential for artists before engaging in innovation. We also found the process of miniature painting to resemble a religious act, with its emphasis on customs, purity, and reverence. Our research highlights the function of ritualization in learning Indian miniature painting. Ritualization ensures the preservation of distinctive aesthetics, uniformity in learning, and the integration of spiritual and religious beliefs in the cultural transmission of traditional arts.

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