To search the meaning of a word is no more than a child’s play as dictionaries reveal it, maybe with a turn of the page or at the click of a computer mouse. But what about painting, drawing, prints and sculpture that anyone might have come across while travelling from Ajanta to Yantra. The dictionary could have hardly given the meaning or tell what it is all about.

To solve this problem, Pratima Sheth came out with an innovative idea, which turned into a ‘ Dictionary of Indian Arts and Artist.’ The dictionary which was released in Chennai recently contains over 1300 entries from Ajanta to Yantra with descriptions of paintings, drawing, prints, sculpture, galleries and institutions, which also include over 300 colour illustration to make things easier for the people.

Brought out by Mapin Publishing, the dictionary is completely focused on the evolution and context of Indian art. It provides a road map for the artist, student, art professional and art lover to discover or advance knowledge on movements, monuments and institutions that represent the creative force of Indian art.

Pratima Sheth is a graduate from J J School of Art, Mumbai. She has participated in a number of group- shows in India and her solo exhibition at Cymroza Art Gallery and Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai and Chez Cyril Stuttgart, Germany. She also had held Retrospective shows in year 2000.