The spectrum of natural colors and their sources is amazing. Saffron is created from Geru Pathar stone, yellow ochre from Holud Pathar stone, white from Khorimati clay, black from a type of soot called Bhushokali. Orange comes from Kamala Pathar stone, green from Simpata leaves, purple from Pui Metuli leaves, pink from banyan buds or […] read more
One of the unique features of Patachitra is the use of natural colour made by the Patuas from locally available sources like leaves, vegetables, stones and flowers etc. The knowledge of colour making is passed on from one generation to the other. read more
Themes of Patachitra explore the relationship between sacred and profane, and the boundaries between religions. Themes of stories present a local interpretation of the world seen through a mythological framework that is projected onto current events. Patachitra is used as a communication tool and to create content for graphic novels and animation as well as […] read more
The canvas for the scroll is prepared by the patuas. The base for the Patachitra painting is made with saree cloth and paper. The painting is done on paper but a layer of cotton cloth is pasted at the backside of the canvas for strengthening the canvas and longevity of the art work. read more
What makes Bengal Patachitra different from other forms of traditional paintings is the song (Pater Gaan) associated with it. The songs are composed by the Patuas themselves before the painting begins. The songs follow traditional or modern tunes with old or new words. The song sets the story for the scroll, and brings it to […] read more
Bengal Patachitra is known for its long scrolls depicting a story. The scroll is painted in frames, each frame narrating a part of the story. The Patachitra scrolls come in varied sizes from one to one and a half feet in width and three to twenty-five feet in length depending on the narratives. The scrolls […] read more
The Patachitra tradition practised in Purulia is known for its simplistic style and compositions, minimalistic background decorationand distinctivethemes, which are strikingly different from the scroll paintings of Medinipur, Bankura, Murshidabad. Purulia’s Patachitra are essentially a ritualistic practice associated with events in the daily lives of people. read more
Similar to other patuas, the artists of this village use black colour for the outline. As a result, the drawings on the base become more visible. Simplicity is the trademark of these pats. The pats are also marked by minimal background decoration and usage of colour. After drawing the main pat with thin black border, […] read more
Most of the scrolls start with representation of the Jagannath trinity, Brahma and other Hindu divinities.The Patuas paint stories ranging from the origin of the Santhals to the likes of Madanmohan Leela, Krishna Leela and Raas Leela, which reflect the influence of Hindu neighbours and intermingling. The Jadu Pata depicts the story of creation of […] read more
