Bengal Patachitra Paintings
Scroll painting or Patachitra is a notable art form, coming from the eastern Indian state of West Bengal (Naya village of Pingla block in Paschim Medinipur district). Delightful and earthy, these paintings reflect the ancient tradition of story telling in India.
The Bengal Patachitra is a visual and oral art tradition practised by the Patuas or Chitrakars of West Bengal. The word 'Pata' comes from the Sanskrit word 'Pata', meaning a kind of fabric/ cloth and ‘Chitra ‘refers to painting. These scrolls were visual accompaniments to stories told through songs and ballads. In Patachitra stories are painted as frames on long scrolls and the Patuas who paint Patas, gradually unfurl them while presenting the story through their songs and the songs are known as Pater Gaan. The Ramayan, tribal folklore and many other mythological stories have come alive with these beautifully illustrated scrolls.
These paintings are traditionally made with natural mineral and vegetable colors. Patachitra is known for its bold colours, lines and strokes & the colours are natural derived from local sources like fruits and flowers. The Art represents themes like Mythological Tales, Historical & Contemporary Themes and Social Issues.
