| A R T F R O M A S I A
Folk Painting from India
Paintings and Scrolls by the Chitrakars
of West Bengal |
 |
|
|
The contemporary scrolls and paintings of Gurupada and Montu Chitrakar come from the distinct patachitra scroll tradition in the state of West Bengal. The patachitra or patua scrolls may portray stories from the great Hindu epics, such as the Ramayana, and Sufi traditions which are also sung frame by frame. The scrolls by the young painters Gurupada and Montu Chitrakar venture even further into current affairs, history and other subjects outside of the traditional canon.
Their subjects include not only the Ramayana but the Tsunami, the September 11th attacks, the Kashmir earthquake, the Gujarat earthquake and bloody Hindu/Muslim religious riots, and incongruously even the story of the French Revolution. For examples of some recent scrolls by various artists, depicting the December 2004 tsunami, go to our Art from the Tsunami gallery.
These scrolls are painted with vegetable dyes fixed with a vegetable gum on paper. The panels are sewn together and fabric from old saris is glued to the back to strengthen the scroll. Individual paintings by Montu Chitrakar may resemble single panels from these same scroll stories, or independent images of wild animals and scenes from his imagination.
For a biography of Montu Chitrakar and his wife, Joba Chitrakar, read the recent article by Indian folk art scholar, Minhazz Majumdar.
Bengali artist Montu Chitrakar
(photo courtesy of Minhazz Majumdar).
Bengali artist Gurupada Chitrakar sings the story of September 11th, 2001,
in Santa Fe, July, 2006 (photo by Anthony Fisher).
|
Bengali artist Gurupada Chitrakar with several of his story scrolls in Santa Fe, July, 2006 (photo by Anthony Fisher).
Bengali artist Rupban Chitrakar with her story scroll which tells the story of the Titanic, based loosely on the movie. Santa Fe, 2007 (photo by Anthony Fisher).
Both Montu and Gurupada Chitrakar are featured in the recent exhibit Village of Painters: Narrative Scrolls from West Bengal at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe and the accompanying catalog by Frank Korom. You may order the book from us below:
Village of Painters:
Narrative scrolls from West Bengal
Frank J. Korom, Photographs by Paul Smutko
The Patuas of West Bengal are a traditional artisan caste specializing in the production of painted narrative scrolls and the performance of songs to accompany their unrolling. Traditionally, the scroll painters wander from village to village, seeking patronage by singing their own compositions while unraveling painted scrolls on sacred and secular themes.
Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe 2006
120pages, 118 color photographs
$29.95 softcover
|
|
|
Tiger and Antelopes
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
2004
Water-based paint on paper
(10" h. x 13 1/4" w. )
$95 |
Worshipping the Shiva Linga (#MCH0308)
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(11" h. x 15" w. )
$125 |
|
|
The Snake Goddess Manasa (#MCH0303)
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(15" h. x 11" w. )
$125 |
Two Women
A. Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 11" w. )
$95 |
|
|
Shiva and Consort
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 11" w. )
$95 |
Goddess
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 11" w. )
$95 |
|
|
Kalighat Cat
tMontu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
2004
Water-based paint on paper
(10 3/4" h. x 13 1/2" w. )
$95 SOLD 10/05 |
Two Tigers
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(11" h. x 14" w. )
$95 SOLD 8/06 |
|
|
Shiva and Consort
Unknown artist - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 11" w. )
$95 |
Lakshmi
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 11" w. )
$95 |
|
|
Scene from Ramayana (#MCH0313)
Attributed to Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(6 3/4" h. x 5" w. )
$42 |
The Snake Goddess Manasa (#MCH0314)
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(7" h. x 5 1/2" w. )
$42 |
|
|
Man on Tiger
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 11" w. )
$95 |
Ganesha (#MCH0316)
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(7 1/2" h. x 5 1/2" w. )
$48 |
|
|
Deer Hunters (#MCH0317)
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(7" h. x 5 1/2" w. )
$42 |
Kalighat Cat with Fish
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 11" w. )
$95 SOLD 10/05 |
|
|
Big Fish
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(11" h. x 14" w. )
$95 SOLD 7/07 |
Two Tigers with Antelopes
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
2004
Water-based paint on paper
(11" h. x 14" w. )
$95 |
|
|
Three Tigers
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
Late 20th cent.
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 11" w. )
$95 SOLD 12/06 |
Tiger with Antelopes
Montu Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
2004
Water-based paint on paper
(15" h. x 11" w. )
$95 |
|
|
Shiva and Consort
Unknown artist - West Bengal, India
c.2000
Water-based paint on paper
(28" h. x 22" w. )
$155 |
Woman Carrying Water (#ANCH0601)
Anak Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
c.2005
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 7 1/4" w. )
$95 SOLD 2007 |
|
Tiger and Antelopes (#MCH0601)
Montu Chitrakar- West Bengal, India
c.2005
Water-based paint on paper
(14" h. x 22" w. )
$155 |
Two Lions and Antelope (#GCH0609)
Gurupada Chitrakar - West Bengal, India
c.2005
Water-based paint on paper
(11" h. x 14" w. )
$95 |
|
Two Tigers Hunting (#GCH0606)
Gurupada Chitrakar- West Bengal, India
c.2005
Water-based paint on paper
(13" h. x 28"" w. )
$160 |
Lions in the Savannah (#GCH0607)
Gurupada Chitrakar- West Bengal, India
c.2005
Water-based paint on paper
(13" h. x 28" w. )
$160 |
|
Elephant and Rhinos (#GCH0611)
Gurupada Chitrakar- West Bengal, India
c.2005
Water-based paint on paper
(11" h. x 14" w. )
$95 |
Two Elephants (#GCH0610)
Gurupada Chitrakar- West Bengal, India
c.2005
Water-based paint on paper
(11" h. x 14" w. )
$95 |
|
|
Family of Elephants (#GCH0608)
Gurupada Chitrakar- West Bengal, India
c.2005
Water-based paint on paper
(13" h. x 28" w. )
$160 |
|
|
|
PREVIOUS PAGE
Mithila Paintings |
NEXT PAGE
Chitrakar Scrolls |
|
| BACK TO ASIAN ART GALLERY PAGE |
|
