The tradition of patuas, or scroll-painting, has been extant in Bengal for centuries. Each district in the state developed its own style of scroll-painting. Among them, Kalighat is perhaps most famous for its patuas. Artists depended on epics and religion passed down generations verbally, or as manuscripts. They also depicted daily occurrences.

The appeal of patuas lies in their simplicity. Smooth, spontaneous lines, and flat colours characterise these scroll-paintings. They keep with the Indian ethos of conveying the essence of the scene or characters depicted, rather than relying on how the eye perceives reality.