Pattachitra painting

In News

• 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).