How Chitpur lithographs democratised artwork

A current exhibition within the capital supplies an unparalleled glimpse right into a pivotal chapter of India’s visible historical past, the place conventional spiritual artwork intersects with the modernity of print expertise. 

Administration of Artwork Treasures of India (MATI)’s newest exhibition, ‘Chitpur Chronicles: A Journey by Sacred Imagery,’ showcases the oldest and rarest Chitpur lithographs. Chitpur Lithographs had been a ground-breaking innovation that remodeled the manufacturing and dissemination of photographs through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These 100-year-old uncommon prints, which characterize a major second in India’s creative evolution, primarily depict Hindu deities and mythological narratives, reflecting the wealthy cultural heritage of the Chitpur space of Kolkata. In contrast to conventional hand-drawn or painted artwork, lithography allowed for the mass manufacturing of detailed and high-quality prints. This system concerned drawing photographs on limestone or metallic plates utilizing oil-based ink, which might then be transferred onto paper, creating a number of copies with relative ease and accuracy. 

“Lithography enabled the dissemination of visible tradition throughout totally different areas, making a shared aesthetic and devotional expertise. It performed a key position in popularising spiritual imagery, making certain that temples, households and public areas might all home inexpensive, but artistically worthwhile representations of divine and historic figures. This democratisation of artwork by lithography had a profound impression on cultural id, spiritual observe and visible expression in India,” stated Siddhartha Tagore, MATI’s founder. 

The exhibition invitations guests to witness the divine presence of distinguished Hindu deities, equivalent to Beenapani (Saraswati) in addition to Jagaddhatri Mata and Kalighater Sri Sri Kali Mata(Kali). The sleek Radha is portrayed in a chunk titled Radha Gostho. Moreover, works equivalent to Ganeshwari Mata and Shiva Parivar(depicting Shiva’s household) current familial and cosmic concord. Additional, the formidable Sri Sri Dashabhuja stands as a logo of energy and safety. 

Mythological tales prolong past the gods, with a strong piece titled Papir Shasthi(Punishment to Sinner), a vivid portrayal of punishment within the afterlife. The exhibition additionally brings to life two uncommon scenes from India’s epic traditions: the poignant narrative of Abhimanyu-Uttara from the Mahabharata and Shri Shri Ram Raja (Ram Darbar) from the Ramayana, providing glimpses of each valour and divine rulership. 

Shri Shri Ram Raja (Ram Darbar) from the Ramayana
| Photograph Credit score:
Courtesy: MATI

“Recognized for his or her distinctive creative and cultural qualities, one of many defining options of Chitpur lithographs is the vivid use of color, with vibrant, saturated hues that carry depictions of deities, mythological scenes and historic narratives to life, making the prints visually placing. The affordability and effectivity of lithographic printing revolutionised the way in which photographs, notably spiritual and mythological ones, had been shared with the general public. These works, which had been as soon as accessible solely to the rich, might now be produced in massive numbers, reaching a broader viewers, together with the center class,” stated Gaurav Kumar, Curator, MATI.  

One in every of Kolkata’s oldest neighbourhoods, Chitpur grew to become the epicentre of the printing revolution within the nineteenth century, largely as a consequence of its strategic location, wealthy cultural heritage and flourishing artist group. Initially recognized for its conventional craftsmanship, theatrical performances and vibrant markets, it was a perfect breeding floor for creative innovation and cultural trade. As lithographic printing gained recognition in Bengal, Chitpur quickly grew to become the focus for a number of famend printing homes and studios.  

Drawn by the world’s bustling industrial exercise and proximity to the town’s rising center class, numerous famend studios harnessed this expertise to create beautiful depictions of Hindu deities, epic narratives and cultural icons. Every Chitpur studio developed its personal signature fashion. The Chore Bagan Artwork Studio was recognized for its intricate and vivid depictions of mythological and non secular topics. Its consideration to element and vibrant compositions made its prints extremely wanted.  

Sri Sri Kali Mata
| Photograph Credit score:
Courtesy: MATI

Positioned within the coronary heart of Kolkata, the Kansaripara Artwork Studio was well-known for its potential to infuse life into the depictions of divine figures, typically embodying the deep spiritual sentiments of the plenty. Lithographs from Chore Bagan Artwork Studio and Kansaripara Artwork Studio are additionally recognized for his or her beautiful detailing, particularly within the intricate portrayal of jewelry, clothes and expressions of Hindu deities, capturing divine and narrative components with nice precision. Calcutta Artwork Studio (Litho Press) additionally contributed considerably to the period’s visible narrative, producing lithographs that had been marked by precision and creative finesse. 

“Every of those studios was instrumental in shaping the visible tradition of the time, producing a big selection of works that catered to spiritual and cultural calls for. Collectively, these studios created a visible legacy that not solely represented spiritual devotion but additionally mirrored the socio-cultural atmosphere of Bengal through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,” stated Siddhartha Tagore. 

The sleek Radha is portrayed in a chunk titled ‘Radha Gostho’. 
| Photograph Credit score:
Courtesy: MATI

Because of this, Chitpur was remodeled right into a thriving creative hub, the place custom and fashionable expertise intersected. The printing revolution in Chitpur grew to become a cultural motion that democratised artwork, making it accessible to a a lot wider viewers, and cemented Chitpur’s legacy as a cornerstone of Kolkata’s creative and historic panorama.  

“Chitpur’s position on this revolution was bolstered by the inflow of expert artisans and technicians who specialised in lithography. These studios not solely employed native expertise but additionally grew to become centres for studying and innovation in printmaking. The neighbourhood’s lithographs, marked by their vibrant colors and creative intricacy, grew to become extensively recognised and picked up, contributing to the unfold of visible tradition all through Bengal and past,” stated Gaurav Kumar. 

This lithograph exhibits the progressive outlook of the artists of the area.
| Photograph Credit score:
Courtesy: MATI

Chitpur Chronicles: A Journey By Sacred Imagery will proceed until thirtieth September at Naivedyam basement, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi.