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Design Resource
Patachitra Painting - Orissa
The Art of Making Picture on Cloth
by
Artistic Manifestations
• Chitra Pothi
Palm leaves have long been used as writing materials. It was introduced in the Cuttack district of Orissa and traditionally was practiced by the Chitrakar families of Raghurajpur. An exclusively indigenous tradition of Orissa, the craft of palm leaf manuscripts dates back to the medieval period. Usually the legends of Ramayana and Mahabharata, images of gods and goddesses, the nature and wildlife themes are presented. Vibrant visual vegetable and mineral colors are used. Romantic figures drawn on small leaves now serve as bookmarks in today’s times. Palm leaf engraving, also called Talapatrachitra, is an ancient form of folk art originated in the Indian State of Orissa. Colors are muted and have a minor role to play. The themes used are mythological, spiritual and erotic.
Manifestations of the Craft-A
• Bhitti Chitra
The typical patachitra style wall murals of Orissa adorning walls of houses and temples in the craft village of Raghurajpur. They are known for their deliberate characterization, dexterous play of lines and natural colours. Depicting a mélange of aesthetic and mythological themes, these painstakingly prepared walls are a permanent capture of the history, style and aesthetic language spoken by this art form for years. Flat two dimensional perspective and pointed facial features are a common style.They also serve as a constant testimony of every artist’s skill and expertise by being a visual interface to the outside world.
Manifestations of the Craft-B
