'Yama the god of death'
Kalighat Painting
2005 (painted)
2005 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This painting combines the two different styles of patachitra (scroll painting) and Kalighat painting into one object. Alongside copies of traditional Kalighat paintings, Ranjit Chitrakar's younger family members work with him to create new variations on religious themes. This painting was designed by Ranjit Chitrakar's elder son. Two techniques have been used to create it. Around the four sides runs the continuous narrative of the tale of Yama, the Hindu god of death. This narrative is painted in patachitra style, with small two-dimensional figures in black and white on a coloured background. The central scene is painted in Kalighat style and shows Yama in the centre, with his two demon henchmen to right and left.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | 'Yama the god of death' (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Organic pigments on handmade paper. |
| Brief description | Kalighat painting 'Yama the god of death', by Sahajahan Chitrakar, Medinipur, West Bengal, 2005. |
| Physical description | A large rectangular painting, with a painted narrative border in black on white, detailing the tale of Yama, the god of death. The central section incorporates four maini colours, blue, green red and yellow. There are three main figures, Yama himself in the centre, and two of his demon henchmen on right and left. Artists licence has been taken over the depiction of Yama; usually he is shown as a green figure with a wrathful countenance. Here he is depicted in kingly form, with skin a traditional yellow shade. He may be representing his later form as Dharmaraja - dealer of justice to the dead and gentler than his more wrathful Yama aspect. His demon servants execute all sentences given by Yama. |
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| Gallery label |
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| Summary | This painting combines the two different styles of patachitra (scroll painting) and Kalighat painting into one object. Alongside copies of traditional Kalighat paintings, Ranjit Chitrakar's younger family members work with him to create new variations on religious themes. This painting was designed by Ranjit Chitrakar's elder son. Two techniques have been used to create it. Around the four sides runs the continuous narrative of the tale of Yama, the Hindu god of death. This narrative is painted in patachitra style, with small two-dimensional figures in black and white on a coloured background. The central scene is painted in Kalighat style and shows Yama in the centre, with his two demon henchmen to right and left. |
| Bibliographic reference | Sinha, Suhashini, and Panda, C, eds. Kalighat Paintings from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2012. ISBN 1851776656.
p.102 cat. no 90 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.44-2011 |
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| Record created | November 11, 2011 |
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