The document is a presentation prepared at the invitation of Ruby Palchoudhuri, Chairperson of the Crafts Council of West Bengal, for an exposition celebrating the Council's 50th anniversary. It acknowledges various organizations and individuals that contributed information and resources for the presentation, which focuses on discussing traditional crafts and textiles of West Bengal.
Presentation Khadi & Village Industries Romance to Reality.pptxProf.Aloke Kumar
Sustainability of Khadi & Village Industries sector in West Bengal.The most important issue that this Meet wants to highlight is the sustainability of
Khadi & Village Industries sector
in the context of the present scenario. The Problem lies here : There is a BIG gap between
Romance & Reality. The first aspect, I would like to recommend is Education. We need an all-round of craft education to make it popular.The second is the Deconstruction of the Art Form.
Not Reconstruction. Deconstruction places the emphasis on appearance and suggests that essence is maintained to be found in appearance. The third aspect I would like to touch is Marketing.
Creation of a Brand.
West Bengal handicrafts are one of the most preferred souvenirs.
Intricate form of metal craft, merchandise, earthenware taken back by tourists and non-residential Indians.
The Palm-Leaf Sepoy. তালপাতার সেপাই I
Kolkata Centre for Creativity-KCC on 28th February 2021 organized a Workshop on the making of Bengal’s oldest form of rod puppet - famously known as the ‘Taal Patar Sepai’. The workshop conducted by Prof. Aloke Kumar, with presentation followed by a hands-on making, facilitates the traditional process of the Palm Leaf Sepoy.
The name associates itself with the use of biodegradable materials such as dried palm leaves, bamboo sticks and colours to create the puppet. The message of sustainability breathes itself into the act of re-creating Bengal’s oldest form of rod puppet.
~
Remember the palm leaf sepoy that you played with in your childhood? Yes, in absence of electronic gadgets, children once played with indigenous toys, like the Taal Patar Sepai.
This particular craft has a historical significance. It started in Bengal during the time of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and one of the place of the Sepoy Mutiny was Burdwan. Mahtab Chand, who was born in 1820, was the Raja of Burdwan from 1832 until his death in 1879. It was during his rule that the Sepoy (Sephai) Mutiny took place.
This particular craft has a historical significance. It started in Bengal during the time of Sepoy Mutiny and hence the name. Artist Madan Mohan’s father Dol Gobindo Dutta has used this art form often as puppets to entertain children. Taal Patar Sepai is hardly found these days, other than may be in melas where they sell for Rs 20-30 a piece. Unless such workshops are held, this dying craft of Bengal will not pass on down to our next generations.
Taal Patar Sepai is a hypocorism in Bengali used to address a weak and rickety person who brags about his strength. But to us all it is a delicate toy, carved from dried palm (Taal) leaf in the form of a soldier/ policeman in uniform. A stick attached at the back of the toy with strings tied to its head, feet and hands enabled the holder to maneuver the toy’s movements and this was a great attraction for the kids once upon a time. A favourite toy both in rural as well as urban Bengal, it occupied a distinct place in the treasure-trove of toys and vied for attention from onlookers.
During fairs, hawkers selling Taal Patar Sepai and other toys would attract a big crowd of children and their guardians who invariably bought these cheap toys in bulk for the children in the family and also as gift items for neighbourhood kids. In fact, the toy was so popular that it entered Bengali vocabulary. But the home-crafted Taal-patar Sepai is now lost in the annals of history. Times have changed and so have tastes. These local toys were replaced by more attractive plastic and rubber toys and then by video games. It was easy to hook children to newer modes of entertainment, so no one plays with these toy soldiers anymore.
• The history of the American Calcutta Connect began around 1778. American merchants had begun trading in India in 1778 when Lord Cornwallis extended the opportunity. It was a critical time for the newly independent America. Being cut off from the West Indies and deprived of their traditional market, they were on the look for a new opportunity for trading. The Napoleonic wars came their way to replace Europe’s East India trade. United States won its war of independence, American private merchants were freed from British restrictions on trade and could send ships to India. Merchant mariners from eastern ports, including Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Salem, set sail to purchase goods directly from India, especially cotton and silk textiles, sugar, ginger, and raw materials. They offered silver or bills of exchange and brought a few commodities that were marketable in India – lumber, naval stores, and even wines purchased en route. These merchants also took part in the profitable business of carrying freight between ports in Asia. Some, like Benjamin Carpenter, made detailed notes and drawings to guide those who would follow.• President George Washington, on November 19, 1792, nominated Benjamin Joy of Newbury Port as the first American Consul to Calcutta.
Joy, however, reached Kolkata only in April 1794. He was never recognized as Consul by the British East India Company but was permitted to reside here as a Commercial Agent . Despite this rather inauspicious beginning, Benjamin Joy's arrival was the beginning of a long official American relationship with Calcutta --- and, indeed, with all of India .
America – Calcutta Connect
an exclusive presentation by Prof. Aloke Kumar on
U. S – Kolkata Connection
for U.S Consulate General Historic Society
Lincoln Room. American Centre
16th. June 2017
Street Photography an interactive session with Prof. Aloke Kumar on World P...Prof.Aloke Kumar
In all of art history, it’s a challenge to find a term or a genre name that is as deceptively simple as street photography – this subgenre of photo making proved to be one of the most adaptive and malleable techniques of the last two centuries.
It can still be a valid picture of this kind if it’s taken in a public environment in which one captures shots of by passers and regular surroundings, hunting the exact moment in time when the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Street Photography an interactive session with Prof. Aloke Kumar on World P...Prof.Aloke Kumar
I am NOT a photographer.
I am a Professor of Communication and visual communication or images forms a sub-text of my study.
Like Mr. Bean who said : I sit in the corner and look at paintings.
I look at photographs. What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment. You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.
Presentation Khadi & Village Industries Romance to Reality.pptxProf.Aloke Kumar
Sustainability of Khadi & Village Industries sector in West Bengal.The most important issue that this Meet wants to highlight is the sustainability of
Khadi & Village Industries sector
in the context of the present scenario. The Problem lies here : There is a BIG gap between
Romance & Reality. The first aspect, I would like to recommend is Education. We need an all-round of craft education to make it popular.The second is the Deconstruction of the Art Form.
Not Reconstruction. Deconstruction places the emphasis on appearance and suggests that essence is maintained to be found in appearance. The third aspect I would like to touch is Marketing.
Creation of a Brand.
West Bengal handicrafts are one of the most preferred souvenirs.
Intricate form of metal craft, merchandise, earthenware taken back by tourists and non-residential Indians.
The Palm-Leaf Sepoy. তালপাতার সেপাই I
Kolkata Centre for Creativity-KCC on 28th February 2021 organized a Workshop on the making of Bengal’s oldest form of rod puppet - famously known as the ‘Taal Patar Sepai’. The workshop conducted by Prof. Aloke Kumar, with presentation followed by a hands-on making, facilitates the traditional process of the Palm Leaf Sepoy.
The name associates itself with the use of biodegradable materials such as dried palm leaves, bamboo sticks and colours to create the puppet. The message of sustainability breathes itself into the act of re-creating Bengal’s oldest form of rod puppet.
~
Remember the palm leaf sepoy that you played with in your childhood? Yes, in absence of electronic gadgets, children once played with indigenous toys, like the Taal Patar Sepai.
This particular craft has a historical significance. It started in Bengal during the time of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and one of the place of the Sepoy Mutiny was Burdwan. Mahtab Chand, who was born in 1820, was the Raja of Burdwan from 1832 until his death in 1879. It was during his rule that the Sepoy (Sephai) Mutiny took place.
This particular craft has a historical significance. It started in Bengal during the time of Sepoy Mutiny and hence the name. Artist Madan Mohan’s father Dol Gobindo Dutta has used this art form often as puppets to entertain children. Taal Patar Sepai is hardly found these days, other than may be in melas where they sell for Rs 20-30 a piece. Unless such workshops are held, this dying craft of Bengal will not pass on down to our next generations.
Taal Patar Sepai is a hypocorism in Bengali used to address a weak and rickety person who brags about his strength. But to us all it is a delicate toy, carved from dried palm (Taal) leaf in the form of a soldier/ policeman in uniform. A stick attached at the back of the toy with strings tied to its head, feet and hands enabled the holder to maneuver the toy’s movements and this was a great attraction for the kids once upon a time. A favourite toy both in rural as well as urban Bengal, it occupied a distinct place in the treasure-trove of toys and vied for attention from onlookers.
During fairs, hawkers selling Taal Patar Sepai and other toys would attract a big crowd of children and their guardians who invariably bought these cheap toys in bulk for the children in the family and also as gift items for neighbourhood kids. In fact, the toy was so popular that it entered Bengali vocabulary. But the home-crafted Taal-patar Sepai is now lost in the annals of history. Times have changed and so have tastes. These local toys were replaced by more attractive plastic and rubber toys and then by video games. It was easy to hook children to newer modes of entertainment, so no one plays with these toy soldiers anymore.
• The history of the American Calcutta Connect began around 1778. American merchants had begun trading in India in 1778 when Lord Cornwallis extended the opportunity. It was a critical time for the newly independent America. Being cut off from the West Indies and deprived of their traditional market, they were on the look for a new opportunity for trading. The Napoleonic wars came their way to replace Europe’s East India trade. United States won its war of independence, American private merchants were freed from British restrictions on trade and could send ships to India. Merchant mariners from eastern ports, including Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Salem, set sail to purchase goods directly from India, especially cotton and silk textiles, sugar, ginger, and raw materials. They offered silver or bills of exchange and brought a few commodities that were marketable in India – lumber, naval stores, and even wines purchased en route. These merchants also took part in the profitable business of carrying freight between ports in Asia. Some, like Benjamin Carpenter, made detailed notes and drawings to guide those who would follow.• President George Washington, on November 19, 1792, nominated Benjamin Joy of Newbury Port as the first American Consul to Calcutta.
Joy, however, reached Kolkata only in April 1794. He was never recognized as Consul by the British East India Company but was permitted to reside here as a Commercial Agent . Despite this rather inauspicious beginning, Benjamin Joy's arrival was the beginning of a long official American relationship with Calcutta --- and, indeed, with all of India .
America – Calcutta Connect
an exclusive presentation by Prof. Aloke Kumar on
U. S – Kolkata Connection
for U.S Consulate General Historic Society
Lincoln Room. American Centre
16th. June 2017
Street Photography an interactive session with Prof. Aloke Kumar on World P...Prof.Aloke Kumar
In all of art history, it’s a challenge to find a term or a genre name that is as deceptively simple as street photography – this subgenre of photo making proved to be one of the most adaptive and malleable techniques of the last two centuries.
It can still be a valid picture of this kind if it’s taken in a public environment in which one captures shots of by passers and regular surroundings, hunting the exact moment in time when the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Street Photography an interactive session with Prof. Aloke Kumar on World P...Prof.Aloke Kumar
I am NOT a photographer.
I am a Professor of Communication and visual communication or images forms a sub-text of my study.
Like Mr. Bean who said : I sit in the corner and look at paintings.
I look at photographs. What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment. You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.
This tutorial offers a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use Pinterest. It covers the basics such as account creation and navigation, as well as advanced techniques including creating eye-catching pins and optimizing your profile. The tutorial also explores collaboration and networking on the platform. With visual illustrations and clear instructions, this tutorial will equip you with the skills to navigate Pinterest confidently and achieve your goals.
Boudoir photography, a genre that captures intimate and sensual images of individuals, has experienced significant transformation over the years, particularly in New York City (NYC). Known for its diversity and vibrant arts scene, NYC has been a hub for the evolution of various art forms, including boudoir photography. This article delves into the historical background, cultural significance, technological advancements, and the contemporary landscape of boudoir photography in NYC.
Fashionista Chic Couture Maze & Coloring Adventures is a coloring and activity book filled with many maze games and coloring activities designed to delight and engage young fashion enthusiasts. Each page offers a unique blend of fashion-themed mazes and stylish illustrations to color, inspiring creativity and problem-solving skills in children.
Hadj Ounis's most notable work is his sculpture titled "Metamorphosis." This piece showcases Ounis's mastery of form and texture, as he seamlessly combines metal and wood to create a dynamic and visually striking composition. The juxtaposition of the two materials creates a sense of tension and harmony, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between nature and industry.
This document announces the winners of the 2024 Youth Poster Contest organized by MATFORCE. It lists the grand prize and age category winners for grades K-6, 7-12, and individual age groups from 5 years old to 18 years old.
2024 State of Marketing Report – by HubspotMarius Sescu
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
· Scaling relationships and proving ROI
· Social media is the place for search, sales, and service
· Authentic influencer partnerships fuel brand growth
· The strongest connections happen via call, click, chat, and camera.
· Time saved with AI leads to more creative work
· Seeking: A single source of truth
· TLDR; Get on social, try AI, and align your systems.
· More human marketing, powered by robots
ChatGPT is a revolutionary addition to the world since its introduction in 2022. A big shift in the sector of information gathering and processing happened because of this chatbot. What is the story of ChatGPT? How is the bot responding to prompts and generating contents? Swipe through these slides prepared by Expeed Software, a web development company regarding the development and technical intricacies of ChatGPT!
This tutorial offers a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use Pinterest. It covers the basics such as account creation and navigation, as well as advanced techniques including creating eye-catching pins and optimizing your profile. The tutorial also explores collaboration and networking on the platform. With visual illustrations and clear instructions, this tutorial will equip you with the skills to navigate Pinterest confidently and achieve your goals.
Boudoir photography, a genre that captures intimate and sensual images of individuals, has experienced significant transformation over the years, particularly in New York City (NYC). Known for its diversity and vibrant arts scene, NYC has been a hub for the evolution of various art forms, including boudoir photography. This article delves into the historical background, cultural significance, technological advancements, and the contemporary landscape of boudoir photography in NYC.
Fashionista Chic Couture Maze & Coloring Adventures is a coloring and activity book filled with many maze games and coloring activities designed to delight and engage young fashion enthusiasts. Each page offers a unique blend of fashion-themed mazes and stylish illustrations to color, inspiring creativity and problem-solving skills in children.
Hadj Ounis's most notable work is his sculpture titled "Metamorphosis." This piece showcases Ounis's mastery of form and texture, as he seamlessly combines metal and wood to create a dynamic and visually striking composition. The juxtaposition of the two materials creates a sense of tension and harmony, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between nature and industry.
This document announces the winners of the 2024 Youth Poster Contest organized by MATFORCE. It lists the grand prize and age category winners for grades K-6, 7-12, and individual age groups from 5 years old to 18 years old.
2024 State of Marketing Report – by HubspotMarius Sescu
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
· Scaling relationships and proving ROI
· Social media is the place for search, sales, and service
· Authentic influencer partnerships fuel brand growth
· The strongest connections happen via call, click, chat, and camera.
· Time saved with AI leads to more creative work
· Seeking: A single source of truth
· TLDR; Get on social, try AI, and align your systems.
· More human marketing, powered by robots
ChatGPT is a revolutionary addition to the world since its introduction in 2022. A big shift in the sector of information gathering and processing happened because of this chatbot. What is the story of ChatGPT? How is the bot responding to prompts and generating contents? Swipe through these slides prepared by Expeed Software, a web development company regarding the development and technical intricacies of ChatGPT!
Product Design Trends in 2024 | Teenage EngineeringsPixeldarts
The realm of product design is a constantly changing environment where technology and style intersect. Every year introduces fresh challenges and exciting trends that mold the future of this captivating art form. In this piece, we delve into the significant trends set to influence the look and functionality of product design in the year 2024.
How Race, Age and Gender Shape Attitudes Towards Mental HealthThinkNow
Mental health has been in the news quite a bit lately. Dozens of U.S. states are currently suing Meta for contributing to the youth mental health crisis by inserting addictive features into their products, while the U.S. Surgeon General is touring the nation to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation. The country has endured periods of low national morale, such as in the 1970s when high inflation and the energy crisis worsened public sentiment following the Vietnam War. The current mood, however, feels different. Gallup recently reported that national mental health is at an all-time low, with few bright spots to lift spirits.
To better understand how Americans are feeling and their attitudes towards mental health in general, ThinkNow conducted a nationally representative quantitative survey of 1,500 respondents and found some interesting differences among ethnic, age and gender groups.
Technology
For example, 52% agree that technology and social media have a negative impact on mental health, but when broken out by race, 61% of Whites felt technology had a negative effect, and only 48% of Hispanics thought it did.
While technology has helped us keep in touch with friends and family in faraway places, it appears to have degraded our ability to connect in person. Staying connected online is a double-edged sword since the same news feed that brings us pictures of the grandkids and fluffy kittens also feeds us news about the wars in Israel and Ukraine, the dysfunction in Washington, the latest mass shooting and the climate crisis.
Hispanics may have a built-in defense against the isolation technology breeds, owing to their large, multigenerational households, strong social support systems, and tendency to use social media to stay connected with relatives abroad.
Age and Gender
When asked how individuals rate their mental health, men rate it higher than women by 11 percentage points, and Baby Boomers rank it highest at 83%, saying it’s good or excellent vs. 57% of Gen Z saying the same.
Gen Z spends the most amount of time on social media, so the notion that social media negatively affects mental health appears to be correlated. Unfortunately, Gen Z is also the generation that’s least comfortable discussing mental health concerns with healthcare professionals. Only 40% of them state they’re comfortable discussing their issues with a professional compared to 60% of Millennials and 65% of Boomers.
Race Affects Attitudes
As seen in previous research conducted by ThinkNow, Asian Americans lag other groups when it comes to awareness of mental health issues. Twenty-four percent of Asian Americans believe that having a mental health issue is a sign of weakness compared to the 16% average for all groups. Asians are also considerably less likely to be aware of mental health services in their communities (42% vs. 55%) and most likely to seek out information on social media (51% vs. 35%).
AI Trends in Creative Operations 2024 by Artwork Flow.pdfmarketingartwork
This article is all about what AI trends will emerge in the field of creative operations in 2024. All the marketers and brand builders should be aware of these trends for their further use and save themselves some time!
A report by thenetworkone and Kurio.
The contributing experts and agencies are (in an alphabetical order): Sylwia Rytel, Social Media Supervisor, 180heartbeats + JUNG v MATT (PL), Sharlene Jenner, Vice President - Director of Engagement Strategy, Abelson Taylor (USA), Alex Casanovas, Digital Director, Atrevia (ES), Dora Beilin, Senior Social Strategist, Barrett Hoffher (USA), Min Seo, Campaign Director, Brand New Agency (KR), Deshé M. Gully, Associate Strategist, Day One Agency (USA), Francesca Trevisan, Strategist, Different (IT), Trevor Crossman, CX and Digital Transformation Director; Olivia Hussey, Strategic Planner; Simi Srinarula, Social Media Manager, The Hallway (AUS), James Hebbert, Managing Director, Hylink (CN / UK), Mundy Álvarez, Planning Director; Pedro Rojas, Social Media Manager; Pancho González, CCO, Inbrax (CH), Oana Oprea, Head of Digital Planning, Jam Session Agency (RO), Amy Bottrill, Social Account Director, Launch (UK), Gaby Arriaga, Founder, Leonardo1452 (MX), Shantesh S Row, Creative Director, Liwa (UAE), Rajesh Mehta, Chief Strategy Officer; Dhruv Gaur, Digital Planning Lead; Leonie Mergulhao, Account Supervisor - Social Media & PR, Medulla (IN), Aurelija Plioplytė, Head of Digital & Social, Not Perfect (LI), Daiana Khaidargaliyeva, Account Manager, Osaka Labs (UK / USA), Stefanie Söhnchen, Vice President Digital, PIABO Communications (DE), Elisabeth Winiartati, Managing Consultant, Head of Global Integrated Communications; Lydia Aprina, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Nita Prabowo, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Okhi, Web Developer, PNTR Group (ID), Kei Obusan, Insights Director; Daffi Ranandi, Insights Manager, Radarr (SG), Gautam Reghunath, Co-founder & CEO, Talented (IN), Donagh Humphreys, Head of Social and Digital Innovation, THINKHOUSE (IRE), Sarah Yim, Strategy Director, Zulu Alpha Kilo (CA).
Trends In Paid Search: Navigating The Digital Landscape In 2024Search Engine Journal
The search marketing landscape is evolving rapidly with new technologies, and professionals, like you, rely on innovative paid search strategies to meet changing demands.
It’s important that you’re ready to implement new strategies in 2024.
Check this out and learn the top trends in paid search advertising that are expected to gain traction, so you can drive higher ROI more efficiently in 2024.
You’ll learn:
- The latest trends in AI and automation, and what this means for an evolving paid search ecosystem.
- New developments in privacy and data regulation.
- Emerging ad formats that are expected to make an impact next year.
Watch Sreekant Lanka from iQuanti and Irina Klein from OneMain Financial as they dive into the future of paid search and explore the trends, strategies, and technologies that will shape the search marketing landscape.
If you’re looking to assess your paid search strategy and design an industry-aligned plan for 2024, then this webinar is for you.
5 Public speaking tips from TED - Visualized summarySpeakerHub
From their humble beginnings in 1984, TED has grown into the world’s most powerful amplifier for speakers and thought-leaders to share their ideas. They have over 2,400 filmed talks (not including the 30,000+ TEDx videos) freely available online, and have hosted over 17,500 events around the world.
With over one billion views in a year, it’s no wonder that so many speakers are looking to TED for ideas on how to share their message more effectively.
The article “5 Public-Speaking Tips TED Gives Its Speakers”, by Carmine Gallo for Forbes, gives speakers five practical ways to connect with their audience, and effectively share their ideas on stage.
Whether you are gearing up to get on a TED stage yourself, or just want to master the skills that so many of their speakers possess, these tips and quotes from Chris Anderson, the TED Talks Curator, will encourage you to make the most impactful impression on your audience.
See the full article and more summaries like this on SpeakerHub here: https://speakerhub.com/blog/5-presentation-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers
See the original article on Forbes here:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2016/05/06/5-public-speaking-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers/&refURL=&referrer=#5c07a8221d9b
ChatGPT and the Future of Work - Clark Boyd Clark Boyd
Everyone is in agreement that ChatGPT (and other generative AI tools) will shape the future of work. Yet there is little consensus on exactly how, when, and to what extent this technology will change our world.
Businesses that extract maximum value from ChatGPT will use it as a collaborative tool for everything from brainstorming to technical maintenance.
For individuals, now is the time to pinpoint the skills the future professional will need to thrive in the AI age.
Check out this presentation to understand what ChatGPT is, how it will shape the future of work, and how you can prepare to take advantage.
A brief introduction to DataScience with explaining of the concepts, algorithms, machine learning, supervised and unsupervised learning, clustering, statistics, data preprocessing, real-world applications etc.
It's part of a Data Science Corner Campaign where I will be discussing the fundamentals of DataScience, AIML, Statistics etc.
Time Management & Productivity - Best PracticesVit Horky
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The six step guide to practical project managementMindGenius
The six step guide to practical project management
If you think managing projects is too difficult, think again.
We’ve stripped back project management processes to the
basics – to make it quicker and easier, without sacrificing
the vital ingredients for success.
“If you’re looking for some real-world guidance, then The Six Step Guide to Practical Project Management will help.”
Dr Andrew Makar, Tactical Project Management
90. Acknowledgement
Victoria & Albert Museum
National Library
India Office Library
Gurusaday Museum
Mukul Dey Archives
KUMARS antiquarian
Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya
Thank you for awarding me this subject. Two things are two be noted. Firstly it is influence not copy. Secondly sphere, gives the subject a huge space for discussion.
The story starts at Kalighat which is believed to have been having a temple from 15th. Century and it has been referred to in Mansar Bhasan composed in the 15th century.
Pats were of two kinds. The first being Sara and second Jorano. All art has a content and form. The Kalighat Pat took its content more from the Sara and the form from the Jorano Pat.
The Jorano Pat is segmented into different pictorial images along with which the narrative was a story telling with songs.
The segmented images being separated lends its form to the Kalighat as a single frame.
Since our story is with Pats I have purposefully avoided any textual narrative on my presentation, to resemble the folk narrative tradition.
the patuas who moved to Calcutta in the early 19th century were rural artisans tempted by the prospect of a growing urban market. Settling in the vicinity of the city’s famed Kali temple,
The Kalighat pats were sold in markets near Kalighat and sometimes the Potuas sold other earthen wares in their shops.
. In an Aquatint of Madam Belenos done in 1830 it is clear that Kalighat Pat was existing. Though the rendering is poor it of Siva.
Despite its link with the famous Hindu temple, the painting tradition was diverse enough in its repertoire to include subjects from other religious traditions, as well as non-religious themes.
1775. Balthazar Solvyns. Chalachitra over the idol of the Durga Ma existed but Kalioghat pai9ntings had an impact on the images and to this day it continues to be painted by the Potuas.
But other than that individually also woodblocks taken from the Kalighat images starting floating in the market. They were of gods and goddesses but also in the tradition of Kalighat made a social comment on the Babus and recent socio political happening.
They made their first appearance in the 1820s as book illustrations by the mid nineteenth century printmakers started printing the smaller prints, which often represented Kalighat paintings.
The next influence where they copied the images from the Kalighat Pat to make woodblocks and most of the time had the patuas hand paint the woodblock images to be sold in the market.
1840. Santal; Influence of Kalighat to be seen as legitimate subjects of their rural localism (see Bloch, 1999).
The next influence was in the Bottala literature
And from this the Panjika or the Bengali Almanac which was not far behind. Here is an example dated 1328 having images in woodblock printed in it.
The affair of Elokeshi Tarakeswar 1873. The other influence was on erotica; Kalighat Pat had a huge amount of erotic images and including the Elokashi Mahant love affair which was a big subject in Kalighat pats.
This impacted printing of lithography and immense amount of erotic Bottala literature which by itself became a genre and today a collector’s item.
It is interesting to note that during this time it impacted the advertisements
It is from here that it moved to lithography where it started to be copied and printed in the lithographic process. Not only in Black and White but also in colour.
Kalighat 1850. Battala 1860.Oleograph 1920
Shiva Panchanana
The Colour Litho Print in the style of Kalighat went on to impact for example Cigarette Cards. ITC then known as Imperial Tobacco Company launched the Engine brand cigarette with lithographic cards with Byjee or Singers of that day.
Kalighat impacted woodblock print influenced such visuals in the cards.
It also had an effect on mill labels which are labels of British Mills in Kolkata coming out with their cloths with their labels similar to Kalighat Pats.
Then we have the safety matches printed from Japan which was a mirror of the Kalighat Pats.
And of labels of different products such as perfumes and hair oils most of them being printed from Germany.
Then influence was not restricted to Kolkata alone, it reached Bombay and here we have postcards printed by Joshi brothers which are a reflection of Kalighat.
One of the most important influences are on the porcelain figurines of Gods and Goddesses which were made in Dresden Germany and sent to Calcutta to be sold in the open market. Here are some examples of Ganesh, Vidya and Shiva-Parvati with Ganesh riding Nandi.
The other is the most copied image of Kalighat which you will all recognize: the Kalighat Cat.
Kalighat also had an influence on wood carvings Here is an early example of an unknown artist of the image of GangaPutra on the bed of arrows.
Much latter a greater impact on Natungram, Bardhaman where they started copying the image of the Kalighat drawing. Here we have the famous wood engraver Bhakta Bhaskar and some of his work reflecting the influence of Kalighat.
The image of the gods that we worship is a direct impact of Kalighat, through the woodcuts to the chromolithograph of the Calcutta Studio and the others it went to have a deep impression on the Kumartuli artists.
Even painters owe their allegiance to the Kalighat paintings, Jamini Roy declared himself to be a Patua and for some time lived with them to understand the nuance and the brush stroke of the art. He is a self-confessed patua who even refused to sign his paintings on the line of the Kalighat patuas. During his stay with the Patuas in Kalighat he also tried his hand in clay sculpture.
Mukul De the famous Shantiniketan painter and dry-point artist wrote in his book that he was influenced by Kalighat painting and had a huge collection which he ultimately sold to W G Archer
The other self- declared follower of Kalighat was the artist Poritosh Sen.
J Lockwood Kipling, Principal of the Lahore School of Arts, father of Rudyard Kipling the famous writer had a huge collection of Kalighat Pats. In 1917 these were presented them to Victoria and Albert Museum and because of its connection an exhibition was held and exposed these to a wide audience of painters and artist.
Juan Gris the painter presented Pablo Picasso with Sara Pats and Kalighat Paintings which influenced him. 1881 - 1973
The other is the French Artist Fernand Leger who was influenced by Kalighat and there are many comparisons of his work which can be drawn to Kalighat paintings. 1881 - 1955
Nearer to home again, DK Gupta the owner publisher of Signet Press for whom Satyajit Ray did cover design was greatly influenced by Kalighat.
Amadpur Village in Memari I Tehsil, Barddhaman, West Bengal. Kalighat paintings also had influence on the motifs of Bengal architecture.
Amadpur
But Kalighat paintings did not enjoy the pride of place and it was left to some individuals to propagate the art among them the foremost was the High Court Lawyer and Art Critic Ajit Ghosh who for the first time in 1926 write an article in the magazine Rupam and also in Smithsonian Journal. His Collection was handed over to the Birlas.
. The other is Radha Prasad Gupta who wrote widely on the subject particularly in the Bengali Magazine Desh to make the Bengalese aware of it.
Along with him is the duo Subho Tagore and Nikhil Sarkar.
It is Shatulbabu as R P Gupta who introduced my father Nirmal Chandra Kumar the antiquarian, to Kalighat paintings. My father who ran an establishment on the line of British bookshops like Foyles and Beranrd Quaritch and introduced Solvyns to Kolkata was not too bent on this Bengal iconograph. Later he went on to promote Kalighat Pat extensively.
The current influence is on an artist Kalam Patua who is carrying in the tradition of Pat. His works are not copies but a takeoff from the tradition in form and content.
May 18, 2012 . historians in Scotland announced that they had found a shoe box containing rare Kalighat Paintings and photographs of Calcutta taken exactly 100 years ago and explaining the influence of these paintings.
Slowly it is full-circle and Kalighat Painting has impacted the themed puja where Kalighat is the theme.
It is in Fashion as well where Kalighat is borrowed in textile designing and the recent fashion show from NIFT in this exposition showcased it.
Calendars are designed using Kalighat Paintings .
It has entered the commercial market as a premium collector’s item in the form of jigsaw puzzle.
Today the subject is of much discussion and when I first wrote about its influence on Picasso there was a huge outcry but my paper received proper recognition when a student doing a PHD in the University of Bolagna in Italy chose to work on the subject.
Maria Gertrudis is a Dutch cultural theorist and Professor Emeritus in Literary Theory at the University of Amsterdam.
It is true that it is a sphere. It has completed the circle. The biggest influence is on the Jorano Pat where it started. The influence is to make the scroll painting into a single sheet which is the greatest tribute to the art.