The
Patachitra is the folk painting of Orissa. It has a history of grand antiquity.
Patta exactly means cloth and Chitra means image in Sanskrit. Patachitra
paintings in India demonstrate the use of strong line and shining colors. These
are religious paintings that swathe events and themes from Indian mythology and
Puranas. They are made chiefly on silk or on old cotton glued with paper. Patachitra
paintings are created in regular series like Dashavatar and activities of Lord
Krishna and Rama. Patachitra paintings basically resemble to the old murals of
Kalinga region as old as 5th century B C. The paramount Patachitra paintings
are in and around Puri, especially Raghurajpur. More about Patachitra painting
in India is painted in the account below.
History
of Patachitra Painting
Traditionally,
these paintings were done by males. Though, some women have now taken up this
art form. The origin of Patachitra paintings is associated to the renowned
Jagannath temple of Puri, built by the Choda-GangaDeva. Demands of numerous
pilgrims coming to the Jagannath shrine, kept this painting style alive for
centuries. Usually, patachitras are located as the initial aboriginal paintings
in the state of Orissa, spaced out from bitty evidence of cave paintings in
Udaygiri, Khandagiri,and Sitabhinji.
The
history of patachitra painting is inextricably connected to the history of the
Jagannath cult. The patachitra painters are temple functionaries, living in and
around Puri. Now, this painter community has spread beyond Puri district. Also
they have begun using an assortment of non-religious themes in their paintings.
But, this has not negatively affected the formation of patachitras based on
Jagannath icons and long-established religious themes. At the same time, these
are still the center of the pictographic content of patachitra paintings.
Materials
Required for Patachitra Painting
The
palette of Patachitra artist consists of a diversity of colors such as red,
white, blue, yellow, green, and black. All these colors are derived from
natural sources. For black color lamp soot is used, yellow comes from ‘Hartala’
stone, white is made from conch shells, red comes from ‘Hingulal’ stone, blue
comes from indigo and green is made from plants. Then, these extracts are
cooked with gum from ‘kaintha’ (elephant apple) fruit tree, and then colors
become effortless to work with. The paintbrushes to prepare these paintings are
classically made of the keya root. The improved ones have wooden handles and
mouse hair is used to make them. The center of the brush has approximately a
dozen long mouse hair. When these hairs are dipped in paint, they have a needle-point
edge.
Themes
and Symbolism of Patachitra Paintings
Patachitra
painting in India is a very much admired folk art of Orissa. Here detail and
definition is paid close consideration. Hindu mythological themes and
particularly images of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are
significantly found in this art form. Illustrations of fables, folk-tales and
myths, scenes from the epics, court ladies, royal processions, birds and
animals are also portrayed in these paintings.
Symbolism
used in Patachitras for gods is very reasonable in terms of shape, form and
accessories. Observing the continuity and resemblance in the images illustrated
in the various patachitras is very easy. Borders in this painting differ from
broad lines to geometrical patterns and flower-patterned depictions with
elaborate detailing.
Patachitra
painting in India is highly praised by art critics for the extraordinary and
unbelievable pictorial conceptions they posses. Also, the idiosyncratic and
pictorial conventions, the summing up and strange system of line formulation
and the intentionally wayward color schemes add to the glory of Patachitra
paintings.
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