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About Kalighat Paintings

The Tradition of Kalighat paintings started in the mid 19th century, around the Kalibari temple in Kolkata, to fulfill the needs of pilgrims and urban audiences. These audiences represented changing aesthetic requirements, transient interests and were greatly influenced by new art forms. Patuas, traditional scroll painters responded to this need with their skill of being able to paint quickly but skillfully, doing away with detail but retaining essential line and form to their work. These works were also termed as Kalighat Pats.

The earliest paintings depicted the entire pantheon of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, though the Patua could practice both Hindu and Muslim faith. The changing environment of the 20th century brought about new tastes and demands, based on Western Theatre, Photography and ideas of Western Art. A new 'Babu / Indian Dandy culture ' emerged. Typically inspired by western thought , aesthetics and tastes. After all Kolkata was the Capital of the Empire.

Jamini Roy and some of his contemporaries were highly influenced by this art form too. Uttam Chitrakar and Bappi Chitrakar are descendents of the same Patuas who populated the Kalibari precincts in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Original works have been collected by the V& A, London; Chester & Davida Herwitz, USA; National Museum, New Delhi to name a few collections.