Amorous Man Sensuous Woman

The art of Ajanta is characterized by some typical features, most notably in the expression of sentiments. Compassion, love, repose, gaiety, friendship, worship, request and restlessness etc. have been beautifully depicted. This expression of emotions is the very soul of Ajanta art.

Here are shown two lovers. Graceful, stylized, bejeweled, and composed, they are the very epitome of sophistication. But it is worth observing that conforming to the highest ideal of Ajanta art the expressiveness of the whole composition is not reflected in the facial features or movement of the body, but in the expressive and symbolic postures of hands, or mudras. In different paintings, the postures of hands have very successfully expressed hope, despair, destruction, request, pardon, renunciation and compassion etc. Here they present compassion instead of passion, dignity instead of sensuality, refinement against elegance. Indeed in the Ajanta percept of art, man and woman are treated not as individuals, but as principles. They are not there just as a male or a female, but representatives of the grace of all humanity.