Painting

With no definite account of its origins, it can be surmised that the expressive Kalighat paintings were born in the bazaars of nineteenth century Calcutta. They served as sacred keepsakes for pilgrims who flocked to pay their tributes to the goddess Kali at the famous Kalighat temple. Hindu gods and goddesses were the early themes of these paintings. The arrival of the British in India transformed the face of society and a new class of nouveau riche emerged. These Bengalis were quick to ape the westerners but soon became the butt of social criticism. It was inevitable then, that a satirical gaze at altered lifestyles found expression in Kalighat paintings. The promiscuous Bengali babu and coquettish prostitutes symbolised eroding traditional Indian values. To achieve the quiet elegance characteristic of this art, the artist first draws the composition in light pencil lines over which were laid transparent washes of color. Next the picture was selectively shaded, facial features added in and details judiciously accentuated. Kalighat paintings usually feature one or two figures against a minimally described background. The pictures are with very few exceptions in vertical format on unprimed, mill-made paper. It was the Kalighat style of painting that immensely inspired the creations of the late eminent artist Jamini Roy.

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