Pattachitra Paintings: From Raghurajpur to the World
Situated among groves of coconut, palm, mango and jackfruit, the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur in the Puri district of the Indian state of Odisha is famed for several crafts including Tussar silk painting, palm leaf engravings, stone and wood carvings, exquisitely handmade wooden and papier mache toys and masks. Globally, Raghurajpur is famous for being the birthplace of one of the most unique and exquisite art forms: the Pattachitra Painting.
A product of the skilled Chitrakar community of Odisha, Pattachitra comes from the Sanskrit words, “Patta” meaning “Cloth” and “Chitra” meaning “Painting”, the traditional art form of Odisha dates back to around the 5th Century BC and has its origins and inspirations deep in Hindu mythology and religious tradition. Created on a canvas of Tussar silk, specifically prepared with a chalk and gum mixture, the painting is characterized by its rich imagery, bright and natural colours and attention to detail in the trademark borders and designs.
While the most famous examples of Pattachitra paintings can be found in the massive, intricate and painstakingly created murals of the temples of Puri, the craft itself traces its origins further back to ancient times. Each Pattachitra painting is a tribute to the Gods in various forms or to the harmony between man and nature, something which has inspired rural artisans across generations.
A disciplined art form with a fixed set of rules and traditions, the Pattachitra masters have created several masterpieces hailing the life and times of Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna at various stages in his life, the different forms of Ganesha as well as capturing and immortalizing the rich cultural heritage and traditions of their village over time. The intriguing art forms are known to art lovers and connoisseurs across the globe and strong efforts, including setting up centres to teach the art to others, are in place to ensure that the legacy and the history of the art endures and continues to enjoy a pride of place among art lovers everywhere.
On artisanscrest.com, you get a chance to explore our collection of intricate and exquisite Pattachitra paintings, straight from the easels and looms of the Chitrakars of Raghurajpur; you get a chance to own the physical embodiment of the vision of the uniquely creative artisan and also the fruit of not just one person’s hard work, but of all the generations that came before them and sacrificed to keep the craft alive. You get a chance to own a little piece of history and contribute towards keeping another ancient craft still alive, one piece at a time.
The Artisanscrest network includes a vast community of expert artisans, master craftsmen and visionaries who work in close collaboration with our art curators and connoisseurs to create exquisite works of art for the sole purpose of adorning the homes of our customers from across the globe. Each Pattachitra painting is created exclusively by the artisans from the town of Raghurajpur based on your choice and specific needs so that you can own a piece of tradition made especially for you.
Pranab Naryan Das
The story of Pranab Naryan Das is of grit and determination. Coming from a family of farmers, art was never his calling but Pranab’s rise as a young artist has been inspiring and praise-worthy. From a very young age Pranab was fascinated by the traditional Pattachitra art-form and was trained by his Guru late Shri Arjun Moharana who was a national award winner.With more than 2 decades of painting experience, Pranab not only captures his imagination on Palm leaves that are used for traditional Pattachitra paintings but applies the technique on Tussar silk as well. Since 1992, Pranab has been an active member at Paramparik Karigar, an association of craftsmen in Mumbai. Over the years Pranab has been participating in art exhibitions across the country and winning accolades for his stunning pieces of work. The American National History Museum, New York exhibited Pranab’s work in 2007 which were highly appreciated by art connoisseurs and followers. Many museums in the United States treasure artworks created by Pranab.
Team ArtisansCrest is honored to have Pranab Das as one of the leading artisans in its team.
Rabi Sahoo
Mr.Rabi Sahoo is a master craftsman in stone based carving. From a very young age, he was initiated to this art form by his father, guide and guru Mr. Sudarshan Sahoo, a Padma Vibhusan awardee for his contribution to stone sculpture works in the country. Since the past 31 years, Mr. Rabi Sahoo has been diligently working to hone his skills and creating marvels across different parts of the country.
From murals of Buddha stories in a pagoda in Darjeeling to conceptualizing and creating the theme of 24 Tirthankar in Swetambar style to designing a 101ft stone mural on the life and times of Lord Buddha to being a designer and consultant for Swarovski AG, Austria, Mr. Rabi Sahoo has done it all and still continues to create master pieces that seem impossible for any average sculptor.
Team Artisans Crest feels honored to have been closely associated with Mr. Rabi Sahoo and have him as a guide and a guru.