Kalighat - Indian Painting
K alighat painting, a school of art founded in the city during the 19th century, is among those rich legacies the country continues to bask in today. Kalighat paintings are said to have originated in the vicinity of the iconic Kligha t temple in Kolkata. At this time, the works were sold to visitors who sought souvenirs to take with them from the religious sanctuary. The art almost always depicted Hindu gods and mythological characters, or incidents, themes, and characters from everyday life. Kalighat paintings were often a joint effort by a group of artists – usually from the same family. So while some members ground ingredients to create homemade dyes, others drew outlines of the figures, filled in the hues, or added the final touches in the form of motifs and background designs. These were then typically brought to be sold in the city. This type of painting continues to influence and charm artists and art lovers in contemporary India. The late artist ...