Capturing the Journey in Kalighat by Sonali Chitrakar

This exquisite Kalighat painting by Sonali Chitrakar brilliantly fuses traditional artistry with contemporary social commentary, depicting a Babu and his bibi taking a selfie while comfortably seated in a hand-pulled rickshaw. The composition exudes humor and irony, as the well-dressed aristocratic couple indulges in modern vanity, oblivious to the working-class rickshaw puller’s silent gaze. The Babu, clad in a regal green kurta adorned with intricate white detailing, extends his arm confidently, holding a smartphone at the perfect angle to capture their moment of leisure. His Bibi, draped in a striking red and pink saree, leans into him with a composed yet indulgent expression, her multiple pearl necklaces and bangles emphasizing her status. Their exaggerated almond-shaped eyes and sharp facial features, characteristic of Kalighat style, enhance the satire in their self-absorbed act. The rickshaw puller, depicted with darker skin tones and simpler attire, looks toward them with an expression that subtly conveys exhaustion, detachment, or quiet resignation, adding depth to the social contrast within the artwork. In the background, a series of hanging street lamps symbolize the traditional urban setting, reinforcing the interplay between heritage and modernity. The earthy, muted background color creates a vintage aesthetic, while the bold outlines and stylized forms retain the essence of Kalighat artistry. This painting is a sharp yet playful critique of class disparity and evolving societal behaviors, encapsulating how the pursuit of self-image often overshadows the realities of everyday labor and struggle.

Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the artwork.

The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork.

Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork. We offer framing services on demand at additional costs. If you wish to get your artwork framed, please reach out to us on WhatsApp or email.

We take custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in more detail.

We ship worldwide, Our Prices are inclusive of GST/Taxes in India. For international orders, any specific custom duties you may encounter in your home country during the delivery has to borne by the buyer.

For all artworks except Lippan and Terracotta, No additional charges are applicable for domestic deliveries. For international artwork orders shipping charges of 4000 INR* are applicable.

For Lippan and Terracotta Artworks, We charge a Shipping rate on a per Kilogram basis.

*Extra charges may apply for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:

• International artwork orders where the artwork's smaller side measures more than 36 inches.
• Extra charges are applicable for Express Shipping. Contact support to check availability for your order.
• Orders with more than 2 product types in the cart.

All artworks are packed and couriered securely in a tube.

Ready To Ship/ In Stock artworks are shipped in under 2 weeks. We only accept return requests for Ready to Ship/ In stock artworks placed within a week from date of delivery. However, no returns can be accepted for international deliveries.

Made To Order artworks will take 2-3 weeks to be made and shipped once they are ready. Returns are not applicable on Made To Order artworks.

Once your order is placed, our team will stay in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.

All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.