PATTACHITRA OR PAINTING ON CLOTH

Pattachitra – Art from Odisha

This very beautifully aesthetic and enticing traditional folk art dates back to the 5 BC old or more, is known to be one of the oldest forms of art carried out in the Eastern parts of our country, Odisha.  

Pattachitra is actually derived from Sanskrit language, and is a combination of two words – patta means cloth and chitra stands for painting.  These fine line exotic paintings of gods and goddesses were mostly done on cottons, and silks, with all colors available in nature.  

 

Pattachitra Art of India

The Pattachitra story of Ganesha, the Hindu God painted over cloth in a traditional unique manner

 
 

History

Legend has it that once the king of Odisha’s high priest lost his son, and was very much grieved to see the grief of his favorite priest.  Then, Brahma, the creator of the universe, in Hindu mythology, appeared in front of the king, and asked him to paint as life like image of the dead child so that he can give life to the painting and thereby restore life.  The king did his best to paint, which resembled the first Pattachitra, and is believed to be the first Pattachitra painting.

Although, these magnificent arts still continue to awe people, and are still created by some artists, but given the current fast age, and lifestyle, this lovely art has taken a back seat.  In our endeavor, Irakoi hopes to revive this art, and bring the glory of its greatness back to help the artists keep alive this ancient art of ours.

Indian Arts

Hindu God Shiva and Goddess Parvati in Pattachitra

 

A small community of artists who continue to create art in this style still exist in Odisha, India.  They religiously continue to create this art form as it has been handed down to them from one generation to next without changing any aspect of it.  This unique and traditional art has traveled through history and yet continues to live unchanged through time.  

It is interesting to note that while most of India’s arts were somewhere influenced by the Mughals, this is one art that remained independent of any influences as they were never under the Mughal rule, and hence no impact on their original style.  The kings of this region promoted and protected this art form. The Pattachitra artists, also knows as Chitrakars, or the one making the paintings, were given great respects.   

Indian Paintings

Painting of Vishnu, The Preserver in the Hindu Religion on a Pattachitra Painting.

 

India being the birth place of Hinduism, these paintings and carvings (on palm leaf) is often given the highest respect as carry religious beliefs.  Carrying the religious values, customs and rituals, these creative arts are very unique and display tremendous patience and artistic talent. Most of their arts are in reverence to Hindu Gods and Goddesses and illustrations of mythological stories.  Needless to say, once completed, these paintings were worshiped and so, the artist who was the creator was highly respected. However, we see new trends and designs created over clothes, and accessories on lines of the Pattachitra Art.

Artists also indulge in toy art, wall hangings, masks and other items of house décor.

 

Indian Ancient Art

Story of Shiva depicted on a Pattachitra.

 
 

Process

Preparing the canvas is a very extensive process. Paintings were done over canvasses made of cotton, but now we can get the same paintings over cottons, as well as silks.  People in the rural regions, who were generally poor and depended on farming as their lifestyle, used old cotton saris for making the canvas, as it was softer and easily available from their homes.  

To begin with, the cloth is first immersed in a solution made up of tamarind paste and water for 4 – 5 days.  After that, it is sun dried. Pastes made of wood apple gum or sticky sap and tamarind is rubbed all over the cloth.  Another similar cloth is placed over the first cloth and they are stuck together with the tree sap, acting as the glue here.   This layered piece of cotton is again sun dried to give a crisp effect of a canvas.  

 

Indian Arts

Beautiful Painting of Krishna done with conch shell and rice powder along with natural colors.

 

After that again, a paste of chalk powder mixed with tamarind and tree sap is applied on both sides.  Once dried, a stone is rubbed on it to give it the smoothness of a canvas.

Colors used

Going by the tradition, only 5 colors were used for Pattachitra.  The colors were white, black, blue, red and yellow. New colors are now added like green, brown, oranges etc.  These colors were and still are all derived from nature, and prepared in a manner to give the organic dyes the perfect hue, and brightness that would stay on and reflect the artistry’s skills.

Whites come from conch shell powder (since the sea is their most immediate neighbor) boiled with tree gum, till a fine paste is formed.  Sometimes rice powder is also used.

 

Ancient Arts of India

Beautiful Paintings in Pattachitra Style – one of the most ancient art forms in India

 

Blacks come from soot mixed with gum and water.  In those days, when electricity was unheard of, in any part of the world, earthern lamps were burnt at night giving out a black residue upon burning.  These were collected and mixed with tree sap and water to give the color black.

Greens are from boiling leaves until a thick mix is arrived at, and then mixed with tree sap and little water.  

Indian Arts

The Story of Krishna in Pictorial Form in Pattachitra with one main episode in the centre.

 

Similarly, browns and reds were obtained from colorful rocks.  The tree sap in the colors gave the colors deep effects and did not fade away.  The brush used is made of wooden handles with mouse hair to give the fineness of the lines.  Intricate borders are drawn on all sides to give it a fuller look and aesthetic appeal. Once the detailing is done, these paintings seem surreal and enthralling.

 

Pattachitra Indian Art

Beautiful Pattachitra done on raw silk.

 

ThemePattachitra Paintings are always themed on Gods and Goddesses, and are narrative in the form of a story or part of a story from Hindu mythology.  Each painting is dedicatedly made and revered as they depict the life or major events of a God or Goddess, especially Lord Jagannath and their tales and stories in pictorial form.  These paintings are considered holy and are even worshipped after being created.

Beautiful Indian Art

Beautiful Paintings in Pattachitra Style ready to be framed.

 

Some of the important themes are representation of the very traditional and ancient Jagannath Temple, demonstration of God Krishna, and his episodes of victory over evil, his time on Earth and in heaven as described in the holy books.  The incarnations of Vishnu, Krishna and his devotees, depiction of singing and dancing with women, the war of Ramayana and so on.Uses

Nowadays Pattachitra is hung in homes as a tapestry, or a hanging.  They also come in bookmarks, greeting cards, and since they are also done on silk and cloth, clothes are designed on these themes and used graciously.  Also, artists are now requested to include geometric designs, floral and nature related images.

Pattachitra is one of the most oldest forms of painting known to human kinds.  Beautiful and elegant, they speak a million words with their strokes and depiction.  Your kind patronage will extend a warm smile across these artisans who are working so hard to keep this art alive in times, that are so commercial and industrial.  Comes to you as a scroll and you may frame them to your choice.  Extend this beauty in your homes and keep a home happy with your support.

Reach us for your queries, information and orders, at shiuli@irakoi.com

 

2 Comments

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    1. Thank you for your kind appreciation, and for being a friend to Irakoi 🙂

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