Lord Kamadeva And Rati, The Twin Deities Presiding Over Passion

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$145

Rati and Kamadeva have a long, interesting relationship. She has been His constant companion since His birth as Pradyumna, son of Lord Krishna. She is His wife and lover, His object of worship and His essential female form, all rolled into one. In the painting that you see on this page, Lord Kamadeva is caught in the midst of His amorous worship of Rati. He kneels before Her and raises up to Her a hand in admiration and supplication, His body quivering with the language of desire. He eyes Her with unbridled passion, desiring Her with every fibre of His being.

She, on the other hand, turns seductively towards Her lover. A goblet of wine in Her fair hand, barely as intoxicating as the form of Rati in the eyes of Kamadeva. With the other hand She pulls closer to Her hips a strip of Her silken garment, teasing Him by drawing it out of His reach. Zoom in on those deep, thirsty eyes and the gorgeously undulating lines that define Her form. The delicate flowers in the vase in the background pale in comparison to the muse of Kamadeva.

A painting such as this is a fine example of the diverse facets of Hindu divinity. Executed with water colours on a fabric of superb tussar silk, such a work of art would add to the aesthetics of any Indian home.

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Item Code:	PY78
Artist:	Rabi Behera
Specifications:	Orissa's Paata Painting Water Color on Tussar Silk Rabi Behera
Dimensions	7 inch X 14.7 inch

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Mastering the Ancient Technique: Exploring the Meticulous Creation of Pattachitra Paintings

The traditional Pattachitra is a scroll painting that is done on cloth. This is revealed in the name; Pattachitra is a Sanskrit term made from two words i.e. Patta meaning cloth and Chitra meaning picture. The main subject of this painting is portraying Hindu mythological narratives, scenes from religious texts, and folktales. Pattachitra paintings are especially practiced in eastern Indian states such as West Bengal and Odisha, and also in some parts of Bangladesh. This art form is closely related to Shri Jagannath and the tradition of the Vaishnava sect. It is believed that Pattachitra art originated in the 11th century and the people of Odisha practice it even today without any discrepancy. Bengalis use these scroll paintings for ritual purposes (as a visual device) during the performance of a song or Aarti.

Pattachitra paintings are characterized by creative and traditional motifs/designs, decorative borders, and bright colorful applications. The outline of the figure and motifs are bold and sharp. Some common shapes and motifs seen in these paintings are trees, flowers, leaves, elephants, and other creatures. The artists of Odisha and Bengal still use the traditional method of painting which gives a unique look to it altogether.

1. Canvas is prepared

The process of painting a Pattachitra begins by preparing the canvas (patta). Generally, cotton cloth is used for making the canvas. The local artists dip the cotton cloth in a mixture of tamarind seeds and water for a few days. The cloth is then taken out and dried in the sun. Now natural gum is applied over it to stick another layer of cotton cloth on it. Thus a thick layer of cotton cloth is formed. This layered cotton is sun-dried and a paste of chalk powder, tamarind, and gum is applied on both sides. The surface of the cloth is then rubbed with two different stones for smoothening and it is again dried. This process gives the cloth a leathery finish and it is now ready to be painted.

2. Natural colors are made using traditional method

The painters prepare and use vegetable and mineral colors for application in the painting. White color is made from conch shells, black is made by burning coconut shells, Hingula is used for red color, Ramaraja for blue, and Haritala for yellow.

3. Colors are filled in

The artist now makes a double-lined border on all four sides of the canvas. The local artists are so expert in painting that they do not draw figures and motifs with pencil but directly draw them with a brush. The paint brushes that the painters use are made of the hair of domestic animals, a bunch of which is tied to the end of a bamboo stick. The figures are now painted with natural colors using the indigenous brushes. The outline is thickened with black color.

4. Painting is given a finishing

Finally, the painting is varnished/glazed to protect it from any damage and to get a glossy shine on the surface.

The making of a Pattachitra is laborious work and therefore, one painting may sometimes take over a month to complete. Due to their classical look, these paintings are admired by people from all over the world. The artistic skills used in Pattachitra are passed down from one generation to another and thus are preserved to date.