Work in Progress

Modern Kalighat patuas use the same techniques of painting as the 19th century patuas did. This painting from Anwar Chitrakar shows us the process he uses to create a Kalighat painting. The initial outlines have been drawn, black and white areas marked out and then filled in. The finer details of facial features, shading, garments and decoration are left until last. This scene is a version of the babu and bibi theme, with the addition of a third woman, perhaps a representation of the babu's neglected wife, seated at bottom left.