The Flourishing Strokes of Kalighat: A Legacy in Lines and Colours

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By Vanirathi Nathani

  • Art
  • India

    • Table of Content

    The Temple by the Ghats: A Sacred Beginning

    The Kalighat temple, nestled beside the Hooghly River in Kolkata, has long been a site of deep devotion and reverence. Dedicated to the fierce and compassionate Goddess Kali, the temple has drawn thousands of pilgrims since its earliest days. With prayers echoing in its corridors and incense curling in the air, Kalighat became more than a religious space—it was a living, breathing testament to faith. And where there is faith, art often follows, capturing the intangible in tangible forms. Thus, it was here, in the shadow of the temple, that an art form was born—a style of painting as bold and evocative as the goddess herself.

    File:Kalighat Temple Kolkata (38325614401).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

    Kalighat temple, Kolkata

    A Marketplace of Art: The Birth of Kalighat Painting

    In the 19th century, a group of itinerant artisans, the Patuas, arrived in Kolkata from the rural expanses of Bengal. These artists were storytellers first, carrying long scrolls—Pattachitras—embellished with vibrant mythological narratives. The scrolls, though intricate, were impractical souvenirs for the bustling devotees who thronged the temple. Thus, the Patuas adapted. They abandoned the scrolls in favor of compact, square-format paintings on paper—quicker to produce, easier to sell. The result was a new genre: the Kalighat painting, an artistic offspring of Bengal’s storytelling tradition and Kolkata’s changing urban rhythm.

    Gods, Goddesses, and the City’s Pulse: Themes in Kalighat Painting

    Initially, these paintings bore the sacred imprints of Hindu mythology—Kali, Durga, Lakshmi, and Krishna reigned supreme on the paper canvases. Rendered in bold strokes with minimal background, these figures exuded a spiritual vibrancy. But the city had stories beyond the divine, and soon, Kalighat paintings turned their gaze to the world beyond the temple steps. The brushstrokes captured everyday life—babus in British coats, courtesans in shimmering sarees, horse races, street brawls. Art became a mirror to society, reflecting both its grandeur and its grotesqueries.

    During the British Raj, Kalighat paintings took on a sharper voice. Satirical caricatures emerged—paintings of corrupt officials, henpecked husbands, and the hypocrisies of colonial rule. Even historical figures like Rani Lakshmibai and Tipu Sultan found a place in the repertoire, their likenesses brimming with defiance. In this way, Kalighat art was not just decorative—it was documentary, recording the shifting tides of time.

     

    Maa kali in kalighat painiting

     

    Opulent Charm:Kalighat painting by Hasir Chitrakar

    As times changed, so did the subjects in Kalighat paintings


    A playful Banter in Kalighat By Sonali Chitrakar

    Soon, Kalighat painters channeled their art into social causes—such as domestic violence - in a satirical manner. 

    The Aesthetic of Kalighat: A Style Unmistakable

    Kalighat paintings are distinctive in their simplicity and dynamism. Unlike the detailed intricacies of earlier Pattachitras, these artworks bore an economy of elements—figures stood boldly in the foreground, their almond-shaped eyes and tapering limbs exuding grace. There were no distractions; the backgrounds were often left blank, letting the central figures command attention. The thick, flowing lines, reminiscent of calligraphy, lent the figures an arresting fluidity, while the use of shading along the contours added depth and volume.

    Cat and Fish - An ever repeating theme in kalighat paintings

    The Craftsman’s Palette: Materials and Sourcing

    Though minimalist in execution, Kalighat paintings relied on a rich palette sourced from nature. Before industrial paints became available, artisans ground turmeric roots for yellow, Aparajita flowers for blue, and soot from oil lamps for black. The gum of the Bael fruit held these pigments together. Brushes were crafted from goat hair or squirrel tails, a testament to the Patuas’ ingenuity. Over time, British-manufactured mill paper and ready-made chemical dyes replaced these natural elements, allowing for mass production.

    The Rise and Fall: Kalighat Painting in the Public Eye

    As the 19th century progressed, the popularity of Kalighat paintings soared. These paintings, accessible and affordable, became prized souvenirs for pilgrims and visitors alike. But the winds of change arrived swiftly. The advent of photography and print technology in the late 19th century posed a formidable challenge. What could be replicated in moments by a printing press rendered the hand-painted sheets obsolete. By the early 20th century, the art form was fading, its once-thriving market dwindling to near extinction.

    However, even in decline, Kalighat painting refused to be forgotten. International museums took notice, and collections began to form—at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the British Library, and the University of Pennsylvania. Back in India, artists like Jamini Roy found inspiration in Kalighat’s aesthetic, reviving its essence in modern Indian art.

    Traditional Bengali Folk Art | Jamini ...

     

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    Painters like Jamini Roy are responsible for revival of Kalighat

    Kalighat in the Present: A Legacy Reimagined

    Today, Kalighat paintings stand as relics of a bygone era, yet their influence lingers. Some artisans in Bengal continue to practice the tradition, though largely for heritage conservation rather than mainstream commerce. Art schools, historians, and museums celebrate its legacy, ensuring that the bold strokes of Kalighat remain alive in artistic consciousness.

    From temple offerings to tools of resistance, from devotional icons to social satire—Kalighat painting has been an art of adaptation, a testament to how creativity flourishes within the embrace of necessity. And so, as the Hooghly River continues its eternal course past Kalighat, the story of this art form endures, flowing through time, unfading in its brilliance.

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