Traditional Hand Made Indian Painting On Silk

Patachitra is the most significant among religious paintings of Orissa, eastern part of India. This painting centers on Lord Jagannath of the famous Jagannath Temple at Puri. Patachitra, featuring brilliant colors, is a souvenir for the pilgrims visiting this famed temple. It is painted by an artist community called 'Chitrakars.'
The art of Pata painting, used for Patachitra, originated during the 12th century. It received patronage from the various kings whole ruled this region. With the onset of the Bhakti movement in the 16th century in Orissa, this painting style included Radha and Lord Krishna in its theme, which originally involved the Jagannath Temple and its deities.
Pata-Chitra is created using a sheet of either silk or cotton cloth. The cloth is first given a coating of gum derived from tamarind seeds. Another cloth is laid on this cloth and similarly treated with gum. These layered clothes on drying is cut into the desired size and smoothened on both sides, giving them a shine. The painting is done on this surface using colors derived from vegetables and minerals. The final painting is given a coating of lacquer. This painting has been done on silk cloth.

Beautiful Pata Chitra Silk Painting, hand made, depicting Indian tales of Mahabharata.