Art History

Scroll and Textile Art

Exploring Timeless Indian Art Forms and Their Products

Source: The images featured on the page are sourced from the internet and are used solely for reference and informational purposes.

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Pattachitra

Origin & History:
Pattachitra is a traditional scroll painting from Odisha and West Bengal, with roots tracing back to 5th century BCE. The word 'Pattachitra' derives from Sanskrit, meaning 'cloth picture.’

Specifications:
Executed on cloth or dried palm leaves, these paintings are known for their intricate details and mythological narratives, especially stories of Lord Jagannath. Artists use natural colors derived from minerals and vegetables.

Did You Know?
Pattachitra artists, known as 'Chitrakars,' often prepare their own canvases and natural colors, maintaining traditional methods passed down through generations.

Kalamkari Art

Origin & History:
Kalamkari, meaning 'pen work,' is an ancient Indian art form that originated over 3,000 years ago in Andhra Pradesh. It involves hand-painting or block-printing on fabric.

Specifications:
There are two distinct styles: Srikalahasti (hand-painted) and Machilipatnam (block-printed). Designs often depict epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Artists use natural dyes, and the process involves several meticulous steps, including treating the fabric with milk and alum.

Did You Know?
Kalamkari art was once used to make temple hangings and chariot banners, serving both religious and decorative purposes.

Phad

Origin & History:
Phad painting is a traditional scroll painting style from Rajasthan, dating back over 700 years. These paintings narrate heroic tales of local deities and heroes, such as Pabuji and Devnarayan.

Specifications:
Phad paintings are created on long pieces of cloth or canvas, using natural colors. The narratives are depicted sequentially, with figures facing each other, and the entire composition is filled with intricate details.

Did You Know?
Phad paintings are traditionally carried by priest-singers known as 'Bhopas,' who use them as mobile temples during performances.

Cheriyal

Origin & History:
Originating from Cheriyal village in Telangana, this art form is a stylized version of Nakashi art, with a history spanning over 400 years. These scrolls were used as visual aids by storytellers narrating local legends and epics.

Specifications:
Cheriyal scrolls are characterized by their vivid hues and traditional motifs. Made on khadi cloth, they are treated with a mixture of tamarind seed paste, white clay, and starch, then painted with natural colors.

Did You Know?
Each Cheriyal scroll can be as long as 40 to 45 feet, depicting a series of episodes from a story in a single narrative

Ajrakh

Origin & History:
Ajrakh is a traditional block-printing art that originated in Gujarat and Rajasthan, particularly in the Kutch region. This 4,000-year-old art form was inspired by the geometric patterns of the Indus Valley civilization and is deeply connected to Islamic culture.

Specifications:
Ajrakh printing uses natural dyes like indigo, madder, and turmeric. The process involves 14 intricate steps, including washing, dyeing, and printing, to create detailed symmetrical designs. The art is primarily used for shawls and scarves, often reflecting stars and geometric patterns.

Did You Know?
Ajrakh derives its name from the Arabic word "Azrak," meaning blue, a dominant color in this art form.