Pattachitra Silk Paintings

Product Details

• Introduction:

Preserving information and wisdom has evolved over millennia, from Stone Age cave depictions to undecipherable scripts on trading seals and voluminous books. Amid this evolution, palm leaves became a medium for inscriptions. Handwritten copies of sacred poetry and ancient literature, crafted by Lipikaars (scribes) over 2000 years ago, flourished under the patronage of monarchs and temple officials. Palm leaf manuscripts, often requiring replacement over centuries, possibly birthed palm leaf painting, or pattachitra, initially as manuscript adornments. This art form later evolved into a distinct medium, skillfully utilizing needle-sharp etchings and vibrant colors to bring a myriad of concepts, fables, and stories to life.

• Description:

Talapatrachitras, finely designed and cut on crisp yellow-green palm leaves, intricately tied together with thread, narrate tales from legendary epics. Orissa painters, masters of this craft, create a universe of stories with needle-sharp precision. The timeless epics Ramayana and Mahabharata dominate the themes, while gods, goddesses, and intricate details of decorations, hairstyles, animals, flowers, trees, and natural elements come to life in these palm leaf illustrations.

• Silk Paintings by National Awardee:

The collection also includes silk paintings by a distinguished national awardee in Pattachitra. Crafted on silk material, these handmade paintings showcase vibrant depictions of the colorful gods and goddesses of India. Each stroke is a testament to the artist's mastery, capturing the essence of divine entities on the smooth canvas of silk.