Table of Content

Kalighat
Gond
Bhil
Dhokra
Madhubani
Molela
Mandana
Tanjore
Pattachitra
Surpur
Kalamkari and Mysore
Zardosi

Felines have formed such an integral part of human life, right from cats being the little furry creatures who hold the power to brighten our day just by demanding food, pets or attention, to the King of the jungle - the lion, his ferocious roar being enough to make hearts tremble, to all other big cats - tigers, panthers, cheetahs, leopards, and others, who all have their own charm and aura. How can such an important aspect of human life not be shown in art? Especially in India, which is the only country to have both tigers and lions in the wild, and its national animal is a tiger!!

We can see felines represented in many ways in various traditional, tribal and folk arts- either as mischievous little companions, symbols of power, or associated with certain myths, gods and goddesses. Following are some of the art forms in which we can see a representation of felines -

Kalighat

Cats form a very popular theme in Kalighat paintings. They are traditionally portrayed in Kalighat paintings as symbols of greed or cunningness, often depicted holding fish in their mouths. They are almost portrayed in an anthropomorphic form, with almond eyes, raised eyebrows and human-like expressions. Some cats are even portrayed with human accessories like holding an umbrella or wearing anklets. They are painted in colors like orange and white, with black patches, on plain, light backgrounds, drawing all the focus towards the feline.

Cat Holding a Fish in Kalighat by Sonali Chitrakar

Cat Holding a fish In Kalighat by Uttam Chitrakar

They are also shown as valuable companions to human beings, adding a touch of love and mischief to their lives. The below painting portrays a lady seated with a cat on her lap, its relaxed posture and the woman’s gentle grip suggesting a bond of companionship, bringing a sense of warmth to the artwork.

Lady with cat in Kalighat by Anwar Chitrakar

This painting shows a married woman sitting beside a cat. Its playful yet focused demeanor as it holds the fish reflects the dynamic interaction between humans and animals in everyday life. This artwork serves as a captivating portrayal of domestic life, highlighting the beauty in simple moments and the relationships we share with the creatures around us.

The Married Woman and Her Feline Companion in Kalighat by Uttam Chitrakar

The below painting portrays a humorous and tense confrontation between a determined woman and a mischievous cat. At the centre of the composition stands the woman, broom in hand, her expression a mix of determination and exasperation. Her sole focus is on the cat, which holds a sizable fish triumphantly in its mouth. The cat's mischievous and cunning demeanour is evident as it clings to its prized catch. This painting captures the essence of the unexpected, timeless and universal theme of human interactions with their furry companions, beautifully rendered in the tradition of Kalighat.

Mischievousness of the Feline Companion: Uttam Chitrakar Kalighat Tales

Kalighat paintings also portray Bagini Maa, a folk Bengali goddess, who is an embodiment of maternal power, protection, and ferocity, seamlessly blending human and feline forms. She is a half-human, half-tigress figure, with her radiant yellow face adorned with large, expressive eyes, arched brows, and a serene yet commanding expression. Wrapped within the embrace of a majestic, roaring tigress, Bagini Maa’s presence exudes strength and nurturing care. The tigress’s bold black and orange stripes with hues of yellow swirl across the canvas in mesmerizing patterns, creating a hypnotic rhythm of movement and intensity. In her protective grasp lies a playful tiger cub, symbolizing the deep connection between the divine mother and her offspring, reinforcing the themes of guardianship and fierce devotion.

Bagini Maa in Kalighat by Sonali Chitrakar

The below Kalighat piece portrays a tiger in a dynamic and almost surreal position, climbing down or appearing entangled in the intricate branches of a tree. The tiger's body is adorned with delicate black and orange spots, creating a harmonious rhythm that enhances its natural form. Its powerful stance, arched tail, and bold expression exude an intense energy, symbolizing strength and dominance.

Tiger in Kalighat by Anwar Chitrakar

Lions and tigers are also portrayed as the Vahanas or divine vehicles of Goddess Durga. The depiction of Goddess Durga riding on her vahana in her various forms is a very popular theme for Kalighat artists. The most popular depiction is Durga as Mahishasuramardini, or slayer of the demon Mahishasura, where everything about her, right from her body language, expressions, colors used in the painting to the vahana, exudes power.

Goddess of Valor:Kalighat Art by Bapi Chitrakar

Divine Justice: Uttam Chitrakar’s Kalighat Battle

Goddess of Power: Uttam Chitrakar's Kalighat Tribute

Goddess Durga's Radiance: Kalighat Artistry by Uttam Chitrakar

Epic Battle: Maa Durga's Resplendence by Uttam Chitrakar

Kalighat Tales: Uttam Chitrakar's Divine Canvas

Kalighat Reflections: Uttam Chitrakar's Colourful Devotion

Goddess Durga Kalighat painting by Hasir Chitrakar

Narasimha, the fourth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Visnu, which was a half-lion, half-man, is depicted in the below Kalighat painting. The lion face and the bright orange color symbolizes power over the defeated demon Hiranyakashyap. Thus, this tale from Hindu mythology about a half-human and half-feline deity has beautifully been captured in this vibrant Kalighat painting.

Roaring Divinity: Kalighat Patua Painting Unleashes Narsimha's Power by Hasir Chitrakar

In HIndu iconography, Shiva is always shown wearing a tiger skin. The tiger, a powerful and fearsome animal, is a symbol of strength and dominance, which are the characteristics associated with Shiva as a deity. Him wearing the tiger skin signifies his control over the animalistic aspects of human nature, like rage, passion, desire, etc. It also symbolises Shiva’s connection with nature and animals, as he is rightly also called Pashupatinath, and his control over all wild beasts. The below Kalighat paintings depict Shiva wearing a tiger skin.

Markandeya and Lord Shiva In Kalighat by Manoranjan Chitrakar

Transcendence in Hues: Mystical Lord Shiva Kalighat by Hasir Chitrakar

Eternal Love Story of Shiva and Parvati: Kalighat Artistry by Uttam Chitrakar

Shiva's Benevolence: Uttam Chitrakar's Kalighat Reverence

Kalighat paintings often depict animals in the wild, or nature and animals as popular themes for paintings. The below Kalighat painting is a beautiful tapestry showing different animals in a forest, focusing on a number of felines like lions and tigers. The lion, as the king of the jungle can be seen occupying the centre of the canvas, his regal eye on all other animals that he is surrounded with, including families of tigers, with both, the orange and black Bengal Tigers as well as white tigers.

The Nature's Tapestry In Kalighat by Sonali Chitrakar

Mata ni Pachedi

Mata ni Pachedi is a temple cloth painting tradition which originated in Gujarat. Lions and tigers, with their regal persona, and being a vahana to the goddess, to whom this art form is dedicated to, have become popular themes. Here are some artworks depicting lions and tigers, as symbols of power, grace and beauty, as well as the divine vehicles of the goddess. The lions are depicted in shades of yellow and brown, with their regal manes flowing and their bodies decorated with motifs.

Lion in Mata ni pachedi by Dilip Chitara

Lion In Mata ni pachedi by Dilip Chitara

Dual Harmony: Mata ni Pachedi by Sanjay Chitara

Durga: Mata ni Pachedi painting by Dilip Chittara

Goddess Durga’s Glory: Mata ni Pachedi by Sanjay Chittara

Fierce Blessings: Mata ni Pachedi by Sanjay Chittara

Lion In Mata ni pachedi by Dilip Chitara

Gond

Gond art uses animals as a concurrent theme, especially royal felines like lions, tigers, etc. In the below painting, a majestic lion is seen, rendered in a warm palette of oranges and browns. Its mane, a striking contrast of white and black, frames its face while intricate patterns and textures adorn its body. The lion's powerful stance and piercing gaze convey a sense of strength and authority, making it a captivating focal point of the painting. The artist perceives the lion as prowling through a hidden landscape, celebrating the power and grace of the king of beasts.

Lion In Gond by Manoj Tekam

The below painting depicts a lion standing under a tree with an elephant and birds around, with its detailed mane, exuding a calm yet powerful presence.

Majestic Tree, Elephant, Lion and Birds in Gond by Kailash Pradhan

The Gond artist depicts a tiger and a lion resting together under a tree, showcasing their brilliant fur using intricate lines. The tiger in the foreground displays a dynamic pattern of stripes, exuding a sense of strength and elegance. Its alert posture and sharp facial expression highlight its fierce yet graceful nature. Right beside it, the lion sits composedly, sporting a mane designed with delicate, flowing lines. The lion's calm demeanor contrasts subtly with the tiger's intensity, suggesting a harmonious coexistence.

Tiger and Lion Under Tree in Gond art by Baaya

This stunning Gond painting beautifully captures the essence of love, care, and the delicate balance of nature through the depiction of a tiger family. At the center, the cub is lovingly nestled between its parents, a powerful representation of parental devotion and the nurturing instincts of the tiger and tigress. The intricate patterns on the tigers, characteristic of Gond art, lend a rhythmic harmony to the composition, reinforcing the idea of balance in nature.

Tiger In Gond by Venkat Shyam

Gond artists are known for mesmerizing portraits of majestic tigers, rendered in a striking palette of bright colors like yellows, reds, greens, blues and blacks. They are depicted with large, expressive eyes, filled with intelligence and power, while the meticulously detailed stripes and other decorative geometric patterns exude an aura of grace and ferocity.

Tiger In Gond by Manoj Tekam

Tiger in Gond by Kailash Pradhan

Tiger and Birds in Gond by Kailash Pradhan

This unique painting depicts a panther, striking a delicate balance between animal grace and geometric precision, capturing the essence of contrast: wild yet structured, untamed yet contained.

Object in a museum in Gond by Venkat Shyam

Bhil

Bhil paintings depict a harmonious nature between nature and animals, like the below painting with a majestic lion surrounded by birds, rendered in the distinctive Bhil art style. The lion's body is adorned with mesmerizing circular and spiral patterns in shades of blue, purple, and green, filled with intricate dots that create a rhythmic, almost hypnotic effect. The use of concentric circles and geometric lines adds a sense of depth and texture, showcasing the traditional dot-painting technique of Bhil artists. The lion’s face is expressive, with large eyes, a toothy smile, and radiating lines around it, giving an impression of a mane. These radiating lines, painted in bold shades of brown, black, and orange, enhance the visual prominence of the lion's head, symbolizing strength and authority.

Lion and Birds in Bhil by Shersingh Bhabor

Dhokra

This striking Dhokra sculpture masterfully portrays a tiger in a tribal, primitive form, ridden by two figures. The tiger, with its elongated and stylized body, features a fierce yet majestic expression, while its intricately detailed mane evokes regality. Shiva is seated on the back of the tiger, along with another rider.

Tiger In Dhokra by Suresh Waghmare

Madhubani

Madhubani paintings, also known as Mithila paintings, are traditionally made on canvas, cloth or cow dung washed hand paper using natural dye and colors. Gods and goddesses are a central theme for Madhubani paintings, characterized by geometric patterns and vibrant colours. Goddess Durga is one of the most depicted deities in Madhubani paintings, with a tiger as her vahana or vehicle. These tigers are shown in bright orange colours, with striking black stripes and other decorative motifs on their bodies.

DURGA, MADHUBANI PAINTING BY PRATIMA BHARTI

Goddess Durga's Radiance: Madhubani Painting by Priti Karn

Molela

This exquisite Terracotta Tiles Artwork depicts the formidable Goddess Durga emerging as a mesmerizing symbol of boundless strength and wisdom. In this intricate piece, Goddess Durga rides majestically atop her faithful tiger, an embodiment of raw, untamed instincts – anger, arrogance, greed, and jealousy. However, her serene presence on this ferocious beast serves as a profound reminder of our ability to reign in these primal tendencies.

Durga Mata, Terracotta Wall Plate Art by Dinesh Molela

Mandana

Showing a remarkable moment in the natural world, this painting depicts two birds perched upon a cheetah beneath the sheltering branches of a tree. This tableau encapsulates the essence of the wild,a world where the boundaries between predator and prey, strength and vulnerability. Here, the cheetah is depicted in a bright yellow color, with artistic spots on its body.

Prey and Predator: Mandana Artwork by Vidya Soni

Tanjore

Tanjore paintings are well known for their depiction of Goddess Durga, her form exuding power and grace, seated on her vahana, the tiger or lion, adding to her majestic presence.

Maa Durga Tanjore Painting by Sanjay Tandekar

Pattachitra

Pattachitra paintings often depict gods and goddesses, like this resplendent painting of Navadurga, 9 forms of shakti, with their vahanas. Out of these, the two forms of Durga, Chandraghanta and Kushmanda are depicted riding a fierce tiger as their vahana, while Skandamata and Katyayani Ma are seen riding the majestic lion. These felines have been depicted in bright yellows and oranges, exuding a sense of regality and strength to add to the goddesses’ powerful presence.

Divine Manifestations: Navadurga in Pattachitra, by Purusottam Swain

Surpur

This brilliant Surpur painting, originating from Karnataka, presents captivating black-and-white sketches of Narsimha, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The artwork exudes a sense of power and ferocity as Narsimha's lion face is depicted with striking detail, showcasing his divine strength and valor. The meticulous lines and shading bring out the intensity of expression, capturing the moment of his fierce manifestation to protect his devotee Prahlada.

The Lion Face in Surpur Art by Krishna Prakash

Narsimha in Surpur Art by Krishna Prakash

Kalamkari and Mysore

These beautiful Kalamkari and Mysore paintings portray Lord Shiva wearing a tiger skin.

Lord Shiva In kalamkari by Kanukurthi Guna Sekhar Sai

Shiva Parvati Ganesha and Kartikeya In Mysore by Raghavendra B B

Zardosi

This stunning Zardosi creation shows a hand-embroidered black panther, radiating majestic allure, showcasing the black panther's regal essence in all its splendor.

Black Panther in Zardozi by Md. Bilal

Thus, we can see how felines are so deeply interconnected with human life, and have had a lasting influence on many Indian traditional folk and tribal art and craft styles, with each style giving their tributes to these creatures in their own way, be it through vibrant colours, geometric patterns, anthropomorphic depictions or intricate embroidery, each depiction is special in its own way, just like our furry friends!