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NIOS Secondary (Class 10) NIOS Syllabus / Paper Review

Painting (Theory) 225

Official Secondary Examination Solutions • NIOS-Aligned Marking Scheme

Painting (Theory) 225
Complete Solved Question Paper

Standardized pedagogical answers for all 14 questions strictly aligned with the NIOS Secondary Curriculum. Includes full conceptual rationales for Section A (Q1–6), analytical comprehension breakdowns for Section B (Q7–8), and exhaustive solutions for Section C (Q9–14) with all internal choices ('OR') thoroughly answered.

Time: 2 Hours Max Marks: 30 Total Questions: 14 Set: A • Code: 71/S/225/A
30/30 Target Score 14 Questions
Sec A: 6 MCQs
Sec B: 2 Passages (9m)
Sec C: 6 Subj (15m)
All Choices Solved

General Instructions & Examination Scheme

Click to view official exam pattern, section guidelines & mark distributions

Instructions for Candidates:

  1. Answers to all questions must be given in the Answer-Book provided to you.
  2. 15 minutes time has been allotted to read this question paper (02.15 p.m. to 02.30 p.m.). Students will read the question paper only and will not write any answer during this period.
  3. Candidate must write his/her Roll Number on the first page of the Question Paper.
  4. Verify that the total pages (4) and total number of questions (14) are in sequential order as printed.
  5. For multiple-choice questions, choose the correct answer from the four options (A), (B), (C), or (D) and write it in your answer book.
  6. Question paper Code: 71/S/225/A, Set-A. In case of any doubt or confusion, the English Version will prevail.
Sectional Breakdown & Mark Scheme
  • • Section 'A' (Q1 to Q6): Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark each = 6 Marks).
  • • Section 'B' (Q7 & Q8): Passage-based Objective Questions (Q7: 5 Marks; Q8: 4 Marks = 9 Marks).
  • • Section 'C' (Q9 to Q14): Subjective Type Questions (15 Marks):
    - Q9 to Q12: Short Answer (2 marks each, 30–40 words; internal choice in Q12)
    - Q13: Short Answer (3 marks, 50–60 words; internal choice provided)
    - Q14: Long Answer (4 marks, 70–80 words; internal choice provided)
Timing & Reading Duration

Reading Time: 15 minutes (02:15 p.m. to 02:30 p.m. allocated solely for reading the paper).
Writing Duration: 2 Hours (02:30 p.m. to 04:30 p.m. for writing solutions in the answer-book).
Total Marks: 30 Marks (Theory Component for Secondary Painting).

SECTION - A

Multiple Choice Questions (Q. No. 1 to 6)

[1 × 6 = 6 Marks]
Q. 01 Ajanta Caves Architecture • Cave Numbering
[1 Mark]

How many incomplete caves are there in Ajanta?

(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) Four
Verified Answer • Option (A) Audit: Confirmed

Ans. (A) One
Explanation: In the NIOS secondary syllabus curriculum, the Ajanta complex comprises a total of 30 caves. Out of these, one cave (Cave 29, a Chaitya hall located high on the cliff face) was left unfinished/incomplete. Consequently, standard textbooks specify 29 finished caves and 1 incomplete cave.

Q. 02 Renaissance Sculpture • Geometric Composition
[1 Mark]

What is the basic structure of a pieta statue?

(A) Pyramidal
(B) Triangular
(C) Spherical
(D) Cylinder
Verified Answer • Option (A) Audit: Confirmed

Ans. (A) Pyramidal
Explanation: Michelangelo's renowned marble sculpture Pietà (1499) at St. Peter's Basilica is sculpted in a classical pyramidal composition. Mary's head forms the vertex/apex, and her broad, flowing drapery spreads out to form a wide base on Golgotha rock, achieving visual stability, physical harmony, and solemn spiritual grace.

Q. 03 Abstract Art Pioneers • Geometric Expressionism
[1 Mark]

Who painted the art work "Angular Structure"?

(A) Leonardo-da-Vinci
(B) Van Gogh
(C) Wassily Kandinsky
(D) Cezanne
Verified Answer • Option (C) Audit: Confirmed

Ans. (C) Wassily Kandinsky
Explanation: "Angular Structure" (Eckige Struktur, 1930) was painted by the pioneer of abstract art, Wassily Kandinsky. Created during his tenure at the Bauhaus school, the artwork features dynamic intersections of diagonals, geometric polygons, and vibrant tonal interactions to produce visual rhythm without depicting recognizable external objects.

Q. 04 Contemporary Printmaking • Graphics Techniques
[1 Mark]

Which technique has been used in "Whirlpool"?

(A) Oleography
(B) Lithography
(C) Intaglio
(D) Fresco Buono
Verified Answer • Option (C) Audit: Confirmed

Ans. (C) Intaglio
Explanation: "Whirlpool" (1962) is a masterpiece by celebrated Indian master printmaker Krishna Reddy. He developed the groundbreaking simultaneous multi-color Intaglio (viscosity printing) technique at Atelier 17 in Paris, using inks of varying viscosities on a single sculptured metal plate.

Q. 05 [1 Mark]

The 'Raja Rani' temple is located in the state _____

(A) Rajasthan
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Karnataka
(D) Orisa
Ans. (D) Orisa

Explanation: The famous 11th-century Rajarani Temple is situated in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa (Odisha). Carved from fine yellowish-red sandstone (locally termed Rajaraniya stone), it is celebrated for its miniature spires (angashikharas) and graceful statues of nayikas.

Q. 06 [1 Mark]

Identify the painter who is related to the painting:

(A) Claude Monet — The Night Watch
(B) Edgar Degas — Small Bottle of Rum
(C) Vincent Van Gogh — Black Lines
(D) Amrita Shergil — The Bride's Toilette
Ans. (D) Amrita Shergil — The Bride's Toilette

Explanation & Disqualification of other options:
• The Night Watch was painted by Dutch master Rembrandt (not Monet).
• Black Lines was painted by Wassily Kandinsky (not Van Gogh).
• Amrita Sher-Gil painted the landmark modern Indian masterpiece The Bride's Toilette in 1937, portraying an Indian bride attended by family members with deep emotional dignity and rich earth palettes.

SECTION - B

Objective & Passage-Based Questions (Q. No. 7 & 8)

[5 + 4 = 9 Marks]
Q. 07 Passage One • The Ajanta Caves & The Depiction of Women
[5 Marks]
"The Ajanta caves are located near Aurangabad district in Maharastra. The Ajanta paintings hold a unique place in the history of Indian painting. Lord Buddha is depicted in symbolic and human forms in Ajanta paintings. The depiction of women is particularly noteworthy. The artists of Ajanta, who painted Buddhist stupas and Chaityas, did not forget the importance of women in their religious fervor. In various aspects of life, women have been companions to men in various forms. Sometimes, as lovers, she offers love to a thirsty lover, and sometimes, as mothers, she sustains the cycle of creation. The painters of Ajanta have meticulously depicted the various forms and nature of women. In fact, the artists of Ajanata have depicted the various forms of women they have seen in the universe. They have meticulously depicted every aspect and every state of womanhood. The women of Ajanta are not individual characters; They are a rule, but rather the embodiment of the beauty of the entire universe. The 'Black Princess' is considered the finest work among the Ajanta paintings. The use of free lines in the painting, the delicate harmong of the body parts depicted by the artist's skill, the slight slant of the face, and the carving of the eyes all are examples of the artist's mastery. The colors used are very simple and lack any brightness. The depiction of women is the pinnacle of Ajanta."

Fill in the blanks:

(a) Lord Buddha is depicted [ ... ] in Ajanta paintings. [1 Mark]

→ in symbolic and human forms Textual Reference: "Lord Buddha is depicted in symbolic and human forms in Ajanta paintings."

(b) The Ajanta paintings were created in Buddhist [ ... ] and [ ... ]. [1 Mark]

→ stupas and Chaityas (or Chaityas and Viharas). Textual Reference: "The artists of Ajanta, who painted Buddhist stupas and Chaityas..."

(c) Each part of the [ ... ] body is depicted with great detail. [1 Mark]

→ female / woman's Textual Reference: "The painters of Ajanta have meticulously depicted the various forms and nature of women... delicate harmony of the body parts depicted by the artist's skill."

(d) The 'Black Princess' is a testament to the artist's [ ... ]. [1 Mark]

→ mastery (or skill) Textual Reference: "...all are examples of the artist's mastery."

(e) The colours used in Ajanta paintings are [ ... ] and not [ ... ]. [1 Mark]

→ very simple and not bright (or lack any brightness). Textual Reference: "The colors used are very simple and lack any brightness."
Q. 08 Passage Two • Bengal Renaissance & Raja Ravi Varma
[4 Marks]
"Modern Indian painting is considered to have begun with the Bengal Renaissance. With the end of the 19th century India's major art styles Mughal, Rajput and Pahari and their various sub-branches, all disappeared. This was due to the entry of European art into India. Among Indian painters of the European style, the first name is Raja Ravi Varma of Travancore. Even before him, the Madurai painter Sri Alagiri Naidu had already achieved fame in this field, and Raja Ravi Varma had studied under him. Raja Ravi Varma also learned painting from European painters who were touring South India. Raja Ravi Varma created many excellent paintings and distributed them across the country by printing them on inexpensive oil prints. These paintings became very popular, primarily due to their depictions of Indian deities and ancient stories and anecdotes. The influence of realistic style is clearly visible in Raja Ravi Varma's paintings."

State true or false:

(a) Mughal and Pahari painting disappeared with the 19th century. [1 Mark]

→ TRUE Verification: Passage states: "With the end of the 19th century India's major art styles Mughal, Rajput and Pahari and their various sub-branches, all disappeared."

(b) Rajput art disappeared due to the entry of European art into India. [1 Mark]

→ TRUE Verification: Passage confirms: "...all disappeared. This was due to the entry of European art into India."

(c) Alagiri Naidu received painting lessons from Raja Ravi Varma. [1 Mark]

→ FALSE Correction: Raja Ravi Varma studied under Sri Alagiri Naidu ("Sri Alagiri Naidu had already achieved fame in this field, and Raja Ravi Varma had studied under him").

(d) Raja Ravi Varma taught European artists who were touring South India. [1 Mark]

→ FALSE Correction: Raja Ravi Varma learned painting from the European painters touring South India ("Raja Ravi Varma also learned painting from European painters who were touring South India").
SECTION - C

Subjective Type Questions (Q. No. 9 to 14)

[Total Marks: 15]
Q. 09 Short Answer • Range: 30–40 words
[2 Marks]

Write in brief about Amrita Shergil.

Model Answer (Board Standard): Word Count: ~38 words
"Amrita Sher-Gil (1913–1941) was a revolutionary modern Indian artist who synthesized Western academic oil painting techniques with the aesthetic spirit of Ajanta frescoes and Indian miniatures. She captured the silent dignity, melancholy, and daily lives of rural Indian women in celebrated masterpieces such as The Bride's Toilette and Brahmacharis."
Marking Breakdown: 1 mark for her background and Indo-European synthesis + 1 mark for themes and representative artworks.
Q. 10 Short Answer • Range: 30–40 words
[2 Marks]

What do you know about 'Progressive Artist Group'? Name few artists of this group.

Model Answer (Board Standard): Word Count: ~39 words
"The Progressive Artists' Group (PAG) was established in Bombay in 1947 to break away from traditional nationalist revivalism and colonial academic styles, introducing an expressive, avant-garde modern Indian visual idiom. Prominent founding members include F. N. Souza, S. H. Raza, M. F. Husain, K. H. Ara, H. A. Gade, and S. K. Bakre."
Marking Breakdown: 1 mark for group origin & objective (Bombay, 1947, modernism) + 1 mark for naming key artist members.
Q. 11 Critical Appreciation • Range: 30–40 words
[2 Marks]

Do you consider "Monalisa" as the greatest work of art in Renaissance period?

Model Answer (Board Standard): Word Count: ~39 words
"Yes, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is widely regarded as the crowning triumph of High Renaissance portraiture. Leonardo perfected sfumato (smoky gradation without sharp borders), capturing an enigmatic psychological expression, subtle anatomical naturalism, and an evocative dream-like atmospheric landscape with aerial perspective."
Key Stylistic Features: Sfumato shading, mysterious smile, anatomical realism, atmospheric perspective.
Q. 12 Internal Choice • Range: 30–40 words
[2 Marks]
Option (a)

Give a general introduction to Hoysala Art.

Answer 12 (a): Hoysala Art Word Count: ~39 words
"Hoysala art developed in Karnataka between the 11th and 14th centuries. Constructed on star-shaped (stellate) raised platforms from soft chloritic schist (soapstone), Hoysala temples are celebrated for exquisite filigree-like surface carving, intricate friezes of elephants and mythology, and sensuous bracket figures (Madanikas) at Belur and Halebidu."
OR (Alternative Option Fully Solved)
Option (b)

Explain the painting 'Landscape in Red'.

Answer 12 (b): Landscape in Red Word Count: ~38 words
"Landscape in Red (1961) is an iconic expressionist oil painting by Francis Newton Souza. Souza creates a haunting, congested urban cityscape dominated by a blazing, turbulent red sky and ground, structured with heavy calligraphic black outlines, jagged church steeples, and architectural forms devoid of human presence."
Q. 13 Short Answer • Range: 50–60 words
[3 Marks]
Option (a)

Give description about the works of Indus Valley civilization.

Answer 13 (a): Indus Valley Artworks Word Count: ~57 words
"The art of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500–1750 BCE) displays sophisticated technical mastery across bronze casting, stone carving, terracotta, and seal engraving. Signature works include the lost-wax cast bronze 'Dancing Girl', the meditative bearded 'Priest-King' carved in steatite, terracotta Mother Goddess figurines, polished black-painted red pottery, and miniature steatite seals depicting humped bulls and unicorns."
Key Media: Lost-wax bronze casting, steatite sculpture, terracotta figurines, glazed ceramics, animal seals.
OR (Alternative Option Fully Solved)
Option (b)

Chola artists were expert in making idols of which metal? Name two famous temples built during the Chola period along with qualities.

Answer 13 (b): Chola Bronzes & Architecture Word Count: ~58 words

Chola artists were master craftsmen in making idols of Bronze using the cire perdue (lost-wax) casting process, exemplified by the world-famous Nataraja.

Two famous Chola temples are:

1. Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur: Renowned for its monumental scale, monolithic granite sikhara, and soaring 66-meter Dravidian vimana.

2. Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple: Famous for its graceful concave curved vimana spire and refined, fluid sculptural reliefs.

Marking Scheme: 1 mark for metal (Bronze) + 1 mark for Brihadisvara (Thanjavur) + 1 mark for Gangaikonda Cholapuram with architectural qualities.
Q. 14 Long Answer • Range: 70–80 words
[4 Marks]
Option (a)

What is Surrealism? Choose any one painting of Pablo Picasso and describe it.

Answer 14 (a): Surrealism & Picasso's Guernica Word Count: ~77 words

Surrealism is an avant-garde 20th-century cultural movement founded in Paris that sought to liberate the creative potential of the unconscious mind, expressing bizarre dreamscapes, psychic automatism, and irrational juxtapositions beyond logical constraints.

Picasso's Masterpiece — Guernica (1937): Painted following the Nazi aerial bombardment of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War, this monumental monochromatic canvas (black, white, and grey) fuses Cubist fragmented forms with raw Surreal agony. Central motifs include an agonized screaming horse, a weeping mother cradling her dead child, a fallen soldier holding a shattered sword, and an electric lamp resembling an eye, standing as a universal indictment of modern warfare.

Marking Scheme: 2 marks for Surrealism definition (unconscious mind, dreams) + 2 marks for Picasso's painting description (Guernica composition, theme, symbolism).
OR (Alternative Option Fully Solved)
Option (b)

Write an appreciative essay on Gaganendranath Tagore.

Answer 14 (b): Appreciative Essay on Gaganendranath Tagore Word Count: ~78 words

Gaganendranath Tagore (1867–1938) was one of modern India's most versatile, independent-minded artistic pioneers. Unlike his contemporaries in the Bengal School who focused primarily on revivalist traditional themes, Gaganendranath boldly experimented with European Cubism. He uniquely integrated fractured geometric planes with Indian atmospheric lighting, mysterious shadows (chiaroscuro), and theatrical architecture in works like At the Altar.

Furthermore, he was India's earliest modern satirical cartoonist. Through trenchant lithographic caricatures in portfolios such as Birupa Bajra and Adbhuta Loka, he fearlessly ridiculed social hypocrisy, blind orthodox rituals, and the superficial westernization of colonial Bengali elites, establishing an irreplaceable modernist legacy.

Marking Scheme: Indian Cubism & light experiments (1.5 marks) + Dramatic theatrical chiaroscuro (1 mark) + Social satire & caricature lithographs (1.5 marks).