Pattachitra painting

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    • Recently, the Odisha CM gifted the Pattachitra painting to Pope Francis in Vatican City. 

    More about Pattachitra painting:

    • Origin:
      • This form of art is closely related to the cult of Shri Jagannath and the temple traditions in Puri. 
      • It is believed to have originated as early as the 12th century
    • Region: 
      • The art is based in the eastern Indian states of Odisha, West Bengal and parts of Bangladesh. 
      •  People in Odisha practice it to this day.
    • Etymology:
      • It is a Sanskrit word.
      • When broken down into its two parts, Patta means cloth, and Chitra means picture.
      • Hence, Pattachitra is a picture painted on a piece of cloth.
    • Painting process:
      • Traditionally the painters are known as chitrakars. 
      • Chitrakars follow a traditional process of preparing the canvas. 
        • A gauze-like fine cotton cloth is coated with white stone powder and gum made out of tamarind seeds. 
        • This makes the canvass ready to accept the paint, made of natural colors. 
        • The gum of the kaitha tree is the chief ingredient, used as a base for making different pigments by adding available raw materials.
        • Following completion of a painting, the canvas is held over a charcoal fire and lacquer is applied to the surface.
        • In recent days Chitrakars have also painted on palm leaves and Tussar silk and have created wall hangings and showpieces.
    • Significant features:
      • Pattachitra is predominantly icon painting. 
      • A floral border is a must around the paintings, and so is the use of natural colors. 
      • The paintings are executed primarily in profile with elongated eyes.
        • Generally, there are no landscapes, perspectives, and distant views. 
      • The dress style has Mughal influences.
      • Some of the popular themes of this religious art are:
        • The Badhia (a depiction of the temple of Jagannath); 
        • Different “Vesas” of Shri Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
        • Krishna Lila (an enactment of Jagannath as Lord Krishna displaying his powers as a child); 
        • Dasabatara Patti (the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu); and 
        • Panchamukhi (a depiction of Lord Ganesh as a five-headed deity).

     

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