Author Description

Language: English Pages: 245 (Throughout Color Illustrations) About the Book Art is an expression of the intrinsic qualities and meaning man finds in reality with things, persons, events or life as such. Art, in various forms, is a part of our life. But sometimes art itself becomes the life of some artisans as seen in case of Chitrakaras of Odisha, whose life revolves around "Patta Painting". Authors, through both synchronic and diachronic approaches, have described sufficiently the historical and socio-cultural aspect of Chitrakara caste, duties of the Chitrakaras and their position in the Jagannath temple along with the relationship of patta painting with Lord Jagannath. Like the history of the caste, the history of the craft has also been attempted by the authors. The authors have elaborately discussed all the stages, techniques and artifacts involved in patta painting and given a detail description including the nature, style, colour schemes, technique and themes and mode of expression as well as regional variation and emerging changes in this age old craft of patta painting. Taking both caste and craft at its core, the present study intends to focus on changes and development in the overall craft tradition of 'Patta' painting. The response of the 'Chitrakaras' to the development stimuli has been discussed in conjunction with the processes of change and development taking place in caste community due to the impact of modernization. Monetisation and market orientation of the paintings have influenced the life-style and work habits of the Chitrakara caste community which, to a decisive degree, determine not only the future of the craft but also the future of the caste community under study. This book will be of immense help not only to the researchers, scholars, academicians but also to any artists a