How to Authenticate a Madhubani Painting: Tips to Identify Originals

Know the origin and history of the art form
Know the styles - the five Schools of Madhubani art
Understand the Mediums: Wall, Cloth, Paper or Canvas
Check the Colors - Natural vs Synthetic
The linework and detailing
Examine the motifs and themes
Observe the composition structure
Verify the artist and source
Handmade vs Print
1. Red flags to look out for while buying a Madhubani painting:

Madhubani, translating to “forest of honey”, is a folk art tradition known for its vivid colors and depiction of religious tales. These paintings come from the Mithila region, particularly in villages like Ranti and Jitwapur, and extending to Darbhanga, Saharsa, and Purnea. Created by women as sacred offerings on walls and floors during festivals, weddings and ceremonies, these paintings have now made their way onto paper, canvas and cloth, adorning homes and galleries around the world.

With their growing popularity comes the challenge of authenticity. The market today is flooded with machine-printed imitations, commercial, mass-produced versions that often lack the soul, symbolism and generational craftsmanship of the original. For collectors, enthusiasts or first-time buyers, learning how to identify a genuine Madhubani painting is not only essential, but an act of respect for the living heritage and the artisans who sustain it.

Following are a few ways to determine the authenticity of the painting through key markers that distinguish the Madhubani artwork from just a piece of decor to a true cultural heirloom.

Know the origin and history of the art form

Madhubani paintings originate from the Mithila regions, with legends associating their origin with the Ramayana, claiming that when King Janaka, ruler of Mithila, summoned artists to celebrate Sita's marriage to Lord Rama. Simultaneously, Urmila, Lakshmana's wife, is said to have poured her devotion onto a mural, a daily act of worship during her husband's exile. For generations, women have been decorating their walls with these murals. Their discovery by British Civil Servant William G. Archer in 1934, following a Bihar earthquake, marked a turning point. He documented these vibrant murals and published his observations. Further popularization came through indigenous organisations, especially during drought relief initiatives in the 1970s and 80s, ultimately broadening Madhubani's appeal to a wider audience.

Women and the Imagined Homeland – KRC TIMES

Know the styles - the five Schools of Madhubani art

In authentic Madubani art, the subjects and styles vary, traditionally depending on the social status of the artist. For example, the Brahmin women create the Bharni style, characterised by rich, vibrant colours filled within bold outlines and mythological figures.

Raas Leela Madhubani painting by Ambika Devi

The Kayastha women practice Katchni, characterised by fine lines, hatching and minimal color use.

MADHUBANI PAINTING of RADHA KRISHNA BY PRATIMA BHARTI

Geru, Godna, etc. are drawn by women of other castes, showcasing tattoo-inspired motifs and earthy tones.

A Kaleidoscope of Culture: Ambika Devi's Godna Madhubani Painting

Understand the Mediums: Wall, Cloth, Paper or Canvas

While traditional base materials include freshly plastered mud walls and floors, authentic Madhubani art is now also made on handmade paper, cloth and canvas. Handmade Paper is the most common authentic surface today. While buying an artwork, look for natural textures, slight warping or fibrous edges. Avoid overly smooth or synthetic canvases unless they are confirmed to be hand-painted.

Nritya Ganesha (Dancing Ganesha), Madhubani by Ambika devi

Check the Colors - Natural vs Synthetic

Traditionally, Madhubani artists use natural pigments made from turmeric, indigo, rice paste, charcoal, flowers and plant extracts. While the natural pigments often have a matte finish and may have slight inconsistencies and layered textures, synthetic poster colors may look flat, overly bright or plasticky. One should touch and observe, if possible, as natural pigments may bleed slightly, while synthetic paints sit uniformly.

Vivid Peacock Madhubani Painting By Ambika Devi

The linework and detailing

Authentic Madhubani is completely handmade. Very often, there is no sketching done in pencil. On looking closely, one can spot double outlines with intricate cross-hatching or dots, especially in Katchni style, with extremely fine detailing even in large compositions. The paintings are never too perfect, they are uneven, with flowing brushstrokes or pen work, showing a human touch, while the mass-produced fakes often use uniform, mechanically perfect outlines.

Raas Leela Madhubani Painting By Ambika Devi

Examine the motifs and themes

Following are a few common themes in authentic Madhubani paintings -

Hindu deities like Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi are depicted very often, with their classic iconographic attributes, rendered in traditional Madhubani style.

Divine Harmony: Shiva Parivar and Their Divine Mounts by Vibhuti Nath

Representation of Lord Krishna with his flute: Madhubani by Vibhuti Nath

Durga Mata: Feminine Ferocity in Madhubani by Priti Karn

Natural elements like the sun, moon, fish, birds, trees and sacred plants are popular themes in Madhubani art, highlighting the interconnectedness between humans, nature and all other living creatures.

Madhubani Painting of Three Suns by Ambika Devi

Fins And Flights on Tree of Life, Madhubani Painting by Ambika Devi

Madhubani paintings also depict folk rituals like weddings, local legends and festivals, making the artwork a means to share the stories of their people with the world.

Wedding in Madhubani by Priti Karn

Vat Purnima in Madhubani By Ambika Devi

Eyes and faces are depicted to be very expressive in Madhubani art.

Riding the Palki of Love: Madhubani's Odyssey of Madhubani by Priti Karn

Observe the composition structure

Madhubani art is often bordered all around, usually with floral, geometric or peacock patterns. The central subject is dominant and framed within a symmetrical or narrative structure. Fake paintings may totally omit the detailed border or break the compositional flow.

Madhubani painting of Tree of Abundance by Priti Karn

Verify the artist and source

Check if the artwork is signed by the artist, as many Madhubani artists sign in English or Devanagari. Always ask for a certificate of authenticity, and purchase only from verified sources like government or artist organisations, trusted platforms like MeMeraki, etc. Research the artist’s background. Many artworks come from Ranti, Jitwarpur or nearby villages known for the tradition. The organisation where you purchase the artwork should be able to give the correct information about the artist, and a complete description of their vision behind the artwork.

Handmade vs Print

Use a magnifying glass to check the painting or zoom in digitally. Fake prints will show dot matrix or pixelation, while hand-painted works will show ink or pigment irregularities and visible brushwork. On touching the surface, one can make out that the authentic works may feel textured or slightly raised. On the back of the paper, you might also see pigment smudges or bleed-through.

Red flags to look out for while buying a Madhubani painting:

Every hand-painted Madhubani is unique. No two paintings, even by the same artist will look exactly the same. If you find many uniform artworks, they are most likely mass- produced imitations.
Empty spaces are very rare in genuine Madhubani artworks. If you notice a painting missing background filler work, it may be a fake.
If there is no mention of the artist or vague provenance mentioned, the artwork is probably not authentic.
If the artwork has an overly glossy finish or is laminated, it is likely a fake.
If the paintings are being sold at prices that seem too good to be true, they are imitations. Any hand-painted artwork is priced taking into consideration the cost of the materials as well as the time, effort and skill required by the artist to create it, thus making authentic handmade artworks being priced higher than mass-produced ones.
An authentic Madhubani painting is much more than just lines and colors. It carries the voice and expression of generations, the tradition of a region and the devotion of its people. Through every brushstroke, the artist tells a personal story, shares a ritual memory and depicts a cosmic symbol. By learning how to spot genuine pieces, you not only protect yourself from imitations, but also help uphold a community’s artistic dignity.

So the next time you bring home a Madhubani artwork, let it be one that speaks not just through its visual beauty, but through its truth - handmade, heartfelt and historically rooted.

Check out our entire collection of genuine and authentic Madhubani paintings here -

To know more about Madhubani art, give our other blogs a read -