Malwa

Refers to a 17th-century Indian school of Rajasthani miniature painting centered largely in Malwa and Bundelkhand (in the modern state of Madhya Pradesh). It is also sometimes referred to as Central Indian painting because of its geographical distribution. Malwa painting is generally described as conservative and simple: compositions are flat, dark backgrounds are favored, space is divided into registers, figures are painted against solid patches of color, and architecture is brightly painted. While the style is often considered archaistic, it was nevertheless a well-established tradition. Two stylistic types have been designated by scholars: Style A and Style B, with the latter showing Mughal influence. The school declined in the 1690s but was influential for the painting schools of neighboring regions.