Himalayan Art Resources

Painting Style: Minimalism & Minimalist Landscape

Floating Figure Composition | Terminology & Classification of Style Names

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Minimalism & Minimalist Landscape Explanation (below)
- Early Painting - Jnanatapa, 14th century
- Gongkar Chode Monastery, 15th century
- Tagten Puntsog Ling Monastery, 17th century
- Drugpa Kagyu, Lhatog Style, 18th century
- Palpung Monastery Style, 18th century
- Masterworks
- Confusions
- Others...

There are a few early examples of minimalist composition in Himalayan style art with the most well known being the Jnanatapa painting (HAR #101352). The old gonkhang of Gongkar Chode monastery and the Tagten Puntsog Ling mural paintings on the 3rd floor of the main monastery are late 15th century and early 17th century examples. The unique painting style of the 18th century from Palpung monastery are certainly the most prolific with a very developed aesthetic for minimalism. Palpung has the greatest number of examples and variety of minimalist paintings.

Jeff Watt 1-2016 [updated 6-2017]