Showing 1–15 of 31 results
Babu Bibi
Painted in black and white, the old Kolkata’s Babu and Bibi (man and wife) talks about a common pass time for the couples, chatting and smoking. The painting style is known as ‘Kalighat er Patachitra’ which connects to Kalighat, the famous pilgrimage in Kolkata, and depicts the city life. Rajesh Chitrakar, an artist of the new generation has learned and mastered the art so well.
Babu Bibi
A depiction of daily life tiff and tussle between Babu and Bibi (man and wife) where in they attacked each other with what they had in their hands - stick and broom. The commoners of the then Kolkata come alive in the art of Bahadur Chitrakar, which he painted at a rather tender age. It’s an old piece of painting.
Babu Bibi
A couple gets intimate and romantic while spending time together. As a part of a story telling about the regular, day to day life, this piece of art makes for a sweet romantic tale. Such paintings, accompanied by songs, in olden days of no television serials, would serve the purpose of entertainment to the village women. They would listen to the stories sung by the Pata Shilpis and laugh and cry, and become one with the characters. This one is done by a young artist Rajesh Chitrakar.
Babu Bibi
A narrative of a regular couple’s life where the Bibi (wife) is sulking and the Babu (man) is trying to get her back in good mood by pampering her. Such stories, back in time of no television, would serve as the source of entertainment to village women. This one is done by Bahadur Chitrakar, who in his youth, would sing along and the audience would sit together in one of the courtyards of the village to listen and enjoy.
Bibi playing Guitar
British Raj
Art speaks for time. The Pata Maya or Patachitra of Bengal, since time immemorial, has been the testimony of time. Our country served as a colony under the British rule for two hundred years and this painting depicts the socio-economic contrast between the British ruler and his indigenous servant of the then India.
Ganesh Janani
Devi Durga is essentially seen as the super power destroying the asuras; but she is a loving mother too. in this painting we can see that she is holding her son Ganesha in her lap with utmost love, care and fondness. It depicts mothers love in a woman who can be as fierce at times too, to save her children from the evil. This is a very famous concept amongst the Bengalis which narrate the power of woman, who can destroy and who can create and preserve at the same time. A painting by Bahadur Chitrakar
Ganesha – Indian God
A very old piece done by the senior artist of the village of Pingla, Baharjan Chitrakar. She has never been to a school or has never had a formal training in the art. She learnt it from her mother and grandmother as they learnt from their older generations. Done in all natural colours, the Hindu god Ganesha comes alive by the hands of a Muslim female artist. Such is the power of art. It takes one and all way beyond religious, educational or cultural barriers.
Kamale Kamini
A depiction of Kamale Kamini, the Hindu deity called Devi Chandi, is here in this painting of Bahadur Chitrakar. The famous Bengali folk lore, Chandi Mangal, written by Kabikankan Mukundaram, tells the tale of Devi Chandi, supposedly another avatar of Devi Durga. The goddess was seen sitting on a huge lotus flower in the middle of the sea and gobbling an elephant and then throwing it up. She would repeat this time and again. The story is long and this painting was used to tell the story to villagers in olden days. It is a very old piece of art.
Kartik – Indian God
The Patachitra of Pingla generally depicts the stories of Hindu mythology. In this artwork we can see the Hindu God Kartik with his peacock, done by Suman Chitrakar. The colours used in these artworks are all derived from natural elements; for example green is made from leaves, yellow from turmeric, etc.
Lady with Guitar
A modern lady of the then Kolkata is painted here in this art piece by Bahadur Chitrakar. The get up of the lady suggests, she belongs to the affluent and literate class of urban Kolkata, who were privileged of being introduced to education and would get the liberty of pursuing their hobbies. The painting holds up a picture of the socio-economic scenario of the era. Such paintings are testimony of their time.
Man and Wife
A rich man and his wife, enjoying leisure time over tobacco, is a common scene from the daily life of the then Bengal. The couple portrayed here represent a wealthy class. The abundance of jewelleries speaks for the affluence of the couple. The old days of Bengal’s socio-economic structure is well depicted in the painting. The art is generally coupled with a song that tells the story of the characters in the painting. Simple strokes to draw the figures and their attire and accessories have created magic here. It’s an art by Rajesh Chitrakar.
Manasa Mangal
This painting, by Bahadur Chitrakar, is a scene from the Manasa Mangal, also known as Padmapuran, a folk lore based on Hindu mythology. The deity of snakes, Devi Manasa is one of the protagonists of the story who compels Chand Saudagar, a rich businessman, to worship her by hook or crook. Chand was a worshipper of Shiva and he would never want to pay homage to Manasa. To fulfil her desire, Manasa sends her snakes to bite Chand’s son Lakhindar to death. Behula, the wife of Lakhindar, takes all the pain to make piece between Manasa and Chand, and subsequently gets back her husband to life.
Mirabai
Mirabai is an immortal character who expressed her devotion to Lord Krishna through her music. This painting of Mirabai belongs to the typical Pata Shilpa gharana of Bengal. The simple yet bold strokes are the signature style of these artists who are the children of the soil. With these paintings, they tell the stories of Mirabai through songs, composed by themselves. This piece is created by Bahadur Chitrakar.
Modern Bibi
A lady of the then Kolkata, supposedly from the modern urban society, holds the hookah and the hand fan. Baharjan Chitrakar has created this art in her younger days. She has narrated the change coming in the society of her time. This piece of art, quite an old one, narrates the socio - economic revolution of the then Bengal.