Patua Art

If you appreciate Indian folk art then chances are you must have heard of Madhubani, Warli, or Gond. These are some of the most popular forms of folk art in our country. But, Indian traditional art is not limited to these three forms, it is in fact as diverse as our country is. Each region boasts of its own form of art and each form is just as magnificent. One such form is Patua art.

The Patuas are an artisan community situated in the state of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha in India and parts of Bangladesh. Their name Patua is a corruption of the Bengali word Pota, which means an engraver. They are also widely known as Chitrakars, which means a scroll painter. Scroll paintings were traditionally used as a storytelling aid. The artist would travel from one village to another and narrate stories using the scroll in exchange for food or money. 

Today, these artists showcase their work at museums, craft exhibitions, and local art fairs.

With the advent of technology and globalization, there has also been a shift in the themes showcased by the artists. Earlier they would revolve around stories borrowed from mythological texts but now several artists of the community take inspiration from politics, social issues, international events, etc.

A painting based on the film Titanic, by Swarna Chitrakar, 2004-2005, Naya

This experimentation is not just limited to the themes but also extends to the medium used for showcasing their work. Wood, textile, terracotta are some of the mediums apart from handmade paper on which the art is now practised.

Patua art on wooden keychains

Patua art may not be as popular as several other forms of folk art but with its bold colors and interesting themes it certainly deserves more recognition. Hopefully, e-commerce and social media will give it a new lease of life. Until then, let’s do all we can to promote and preserve this form of art.