Historical and cultural monuments being preserved on and under Also the art of portraiture began to flourish. As evidence of it, Chinggis Khaan's portrait drawn in 1278 by order of the Khubilai Khaan, is still kept in Taipei. Beginning in the 15th century, religion, especially of yellow Lamaism, began to dominate the art of painting. Later it developed into a fine art form. Since those times Mongolian painting began developing in two major directions: iconography and the ground of Central Asia are the mirror of the wisdom and rich cultural heritage of Mongolian ancestors. The rock and cave pictures, found in territories of Dundgobi, Uvurkhangai and Khovd aimags, indicated that this art was flourishing in Mongolia at the end of the Bronze and in the beginning of the Iron Ages.
The paintings of the 13th and 14th centuries reflected mainly the nomads' life style, wars and nature. genre painting, depicting simple life and the people around. B.Sharav (1869-1939) is the painter who linked the old with the new in his art. The Mongolian way of life was depicted in his outstanding work "One day in Mongolia" and various portraits. A new social system that was founded upon the victory of the revolution in 1921 was focused on art works. All of them were dedicated to publicising the new system. Mongolian artists became acquainted with European paintings and began using both Mongolian and Western drawing methods. In order to develop Mongolian art systematically, specialised artists were trained and their agencies were established in the country.
In the 1950s, many genres of fine art, carpet and porcelain production were introduced and developed. During this period a number of artists and architects became famous for their thematic work, namely, painter O.Tsevegjav for animals, U.Yadamsuren for workers, N.Chultem and G.Odon for history and everyday life, L.Gavaa for nature, architect S.Choimbol for monuments, etc. In the 1960s, there was a great change in the tradition of art: artists began refusing to use linear perspectives, harmonisation of colours and colour endowment in every respect, and began to use other techniques of painting. Themes and content expanded as well.
Art works which represent today's painting techniques are: U.Yadamsuren's "The Old Horse-fiddler", A.Sengetsokhio's " The Mongol Lady", B.Avarzed's "Uurgach" and Ts. Minjuur's "Caravan Guide". The painters L.Gavaa, O.Tsevegjav and Ts.Dorjpalam are famous not only at home, but also abroad. They made great contributions to the creation of new art based on tradition and trained several generations of gifted painters. At present, new and different artistic trends are emerging, and such creative young painters as S.Sarantsatsralt, Do. Bold, J.Munkhtsetseg and D.Tengisbold are developing modern art.
