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The tradition of painting in South is rich and varied. From the Buddhist wall paintings in the caves of Ajanta to contemporary poster prints of Hindu deities, painting has provided an important medium for portraying important religious stories and expressing devotion. The style varies greatly according to place, period, and purpose, ranging from highly abstract geometric compositions to a natural realism that competes with the finest of Western masterpieces. The Western viewer might be puzzled at first by an apparent lack of perspective in many of these images. However, it is important to realize that conventions of perspective are by no means fixed across cultures, and the artists who produced the magnificent paintings seen in this collection have successfully infused them with a sense of order that enables the viewer to both follow the story and enjoy the pleasing effects of the composition. Most of the images presented here appear on the walls of rock-cut caves and temples, allowing us to experience paintings that would otherwise be accessible only through extensive travel.