Pattachitra

Pattachitra

Pattachitra is a traditional painting of Orissa, India.These Paintings are based on Hindu Mythology and specially inspired by Jagannath and Vaishnava cult. All colours used in the Paintings are natural and paintings are made fully old traditional way by Chitrakaras that is Oriya Painter. Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Orissa. The name Pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit words patta, meaning canvas, and chitra, meaning picture. Pattachitra is thus a painting done on canvas, and is manifested by rich colourful application, creative motifs and designs, and portrayal of simple themes, mostly mythological in depiction.[ The traditions of pattachitra paintings are more than thousand years old. Pattachitra Paintings is one of the earliest forms of paintings in Orissa that are chiefly admired worldwide for their carefully done craftsmanship, rich colors, unique designs & creative motifs, & simple themes, which are chiefly mythological in origin on canvas.

History

The history of patachitra painting is linked inextricably with the history of the Jagannath cult. The patachitra "chitrakars" (painters) are temple functionaries who live in and around the temple town of Puri . Now, the community of chitrakars have spread beyond Puri district, and they have also begun using a variety of non-religious themes in their paintings. However, this has not reduced the creation of patachitras based on Jagannath icons and traditional religious themes and these still remain the core of the pictorial content of patachitra paintings.

Theme & style 

The theme of Oriya painting centres round the Jagannath and the Vaishnava cult. Since beginning of Pattachitra culture, Lord Jagannath who was an incarnation of Lord Krishna has been the major source of inspiration. The subject matter of Patta Chitra is mostly mythological, religious stories and folk lore. Themes are chiefly on Lord Jagannath and Radha-Krishna, different "Vesas" of Shri Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, temple activities, the ten incarnations of Vishnu basing on the 'Gita Govinda' of Jayadev, Kama Kujara Navagunjara, Ramayana, Mahabharata. The individual paintings of gods and goddesses are also being painted. The Pattachitra style are mix of both folk and classical elements but leanings more towards folk forms. The dress style has Mughal influences. All of the poses have been confined to a few well-defined postures. These are not free from monotonous repetitions, though at times this is necessary to accentuate the narrative character of the style. The lines are bold and clean and angular and sharp.

Pattachitra

Pattachitra is a traditional painting of Orissa, India.These Paintings are based on Hindu Mythology and specially inspired by Jagannath and Vaishnava cult. All colours used in the Paintings are natural and paintings are made fully old traditional way by Chitrakaras that is Oriya Painter. Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Orissa. The name Pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit words patta, meaning canvas, and chitra, meaning picture. Pattachitra is thus a painting done on canvas, and is manifested by rich colourful application, creative motifs and designs, and portrayal of simple themes, mostly mythological in depiction.[ The traditions of pattachitra paintings are more than thousand years old. Pattachitra Paintings is one of the earliest forms of paintings in Orissa that are chiefly admired worldwide for their carefully done craftsmanship, rich colors, unique designs & creative motifs, & simple themes, which are chiefly mythological in origin on canvas.

History

The history of patachitra painting is linked inextricably with the history of the Jagannath cult. The patachitra "chitrakars" (painters) are temple functionaries who live in and around the temple town of Puri . Now, the community of chitrakars have spread beyond Puri district, and they have also begun using a variety of non-religious themes in their paintings. However, this has not reduced the creation of patachitras based on Jagannath icons and traditional religious themes and these still remain the core of the pictorial content of patachitra paintings.

Theme & style 

The theme of Oriya painting centres round the Jagannath and the Vaishnava cult. Since beginning of Pattachitra culture, Lord Jagannath who was an incarnation of Lord Krishna has been the major source of inspiration. The subject matter of Patta Chitra is mostly mythological, religious stories and folk lore. Themes are chiefly on Lord Jagannath and Radha-Krishna, different "Vesas" of Shri Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, temple activities, the ten incarnations of Vishnu basing on the 'Gita Govinda' of Jayadev, Kama Kujara Navagunjara, Ramayana, Mahabharata. The individual paintings of gods and goddesses are also being painted. The Pattachitra style are mix of both folk and classical elements but leanings more towards folk forms. The dress style has Mughal influences. All of the poses have been confined to a few well-defined postures. These are not free from monotonous repetitions, though at times this is necessary to accentuate the narrative character of the style. The lines are bold and clean and angular and sharp.