Kalighat Pata, also known as Kalighat Pat or Kalighat Patachitra, is a 19th-century Bengali folk painting style. Its strong lines, brilliant colours, and straightforward compositions distinguish it. Kalighat Pata paintings are primarily created on paper or fabric and show a variety of subjects like religious and mythical events, social commentary, and everyday life.
History
Kalighat Pata’s development relates to the Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal. The temple is one of India’s most prominent Hindu pilgrimage sites and has long been a focus of creative and cultural activity. The area around the temple became a hotbed for scroll painters known as Patuas in the nineteenth century. The Patuas were travelling artists who performed and sold their paintings from town to village.
Kalighat Pata paintings were originally made as inexpensive gifts for pilgrims visiting the Kalighat Kali Temple. They swiftly gained popularity among a wider audience and were soon sold throughout India. The murals of Kalighat Pata were also popular with British colonial authorities and tourists, who considered them works of art.
Kalighat Pata’s development relates to the Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal. The temple is one of India’s most prominent Hindu pilgrimage sites and has long been a focus of creative and cultural activity. The area around the temple became a hotbed for scroll painters known as Patuas in the nineteenth century. The Patuas were travelling artists who performed and sold their paintings from town to village.
Kalighat Pata paintings were originally made as inexpensive gifts for pilgrims visiting the Kalighat Kali Temple. They swiftly gained popularity among a wider audience and were soon sold throughout India. The murals of Kalighat Pata were also popular with British colonial authorities and tourists, who considered them works of art.
Cultural Significance
Kalighat Pata paintings are an essential part of Bengali culture and heritage. They are beautiful works of art and provide a valuable glimpse into the social and cultural history of Bengal. Kalighat Pata’s paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. Private collectors and art enthusiasts also collect them.
Style and Technique
The paintings of Kalighat Pata are distinguished by their bold lines, brilliant colours, and simplistic compositions. The artists often employed a limited colour pallet of red, yellow, blue, and black. They also used various brushstrokes to achieve multiple effects, such as strong lines to outline the figures and delicate lines to add details.
Typically, Kalighat Pata artworks are created on paper or cloth. The paper is initially covered with gesso, a white paste from lime and chalk. This results in a smooth surface for painting. The artist then uses a brush or charcoal pencil to draw the contours of the figurines. Once the outlines are complete, the artist uses a variety of brushes to fill in the colours.
