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Even
at the most basic level Orissan paintings have a colour and vibrancy
that are one of the most effective media of reflecting life. The
painting on walls in Orissa is almost as ancient as time, it seems...
the simple but lovely filigree painting drawn on the walls of the
tribal dwellings is a witness to this exquisite creativity.
Tribals such as the Juangs draw slender figures of men and women,
flowers and fruits in white rice powder on the walls of their homes,
while other groups embellish their walls with swirls of contrasting
clays of the earth and decorate their homes with strokes that are
simple but deft in their delineation of what they see around them.
The art of patachitra has been traditionally practised by the Mahapatras
or Maharanas, the professional painter-caste in Orissa. The press
of religious patronage brought this elegant and detailed art to
a sophisticated art form.
It emerged as an important feature in the embellishment of Lord
Jagannath in the inner-most sanctum, where paintings on specially
treated cloth or pata, of the deities, are done by the temple painter.
Patachitra (an excellent religious souvenir) has also become more
secular in its choice of subject matter. Strong traces of tribal,
folk and bazar paintings are evident in the delineations on these
patas.
The most important palm-leaf manuscripts (chitra-pothies-thecollection
of painted palm-leaves stacked on top of each other and held together
between painted wooden 'covers' by means of a string bored through
these 'pages') have been those illustrating the Gita Govincla and
other mythological stories. Some are housed at the Orissa State
Museum while some are at New Delhi's National Museum.
Paintings created by the palm - leaf etching method can be formed
by stringing rows of the rectangular leaves together. This can also
be opened up like a fan.
The fine form of patachitra has been revived with great success
at the artists' village of Raghurajpur just outside Puri where over
200 families practise the art revitalised from family sketch books
handed down from generation to generation. The craftsmen accord
great reverence to these family heirlooms which are worshipped along
with the family deities.
The beautifully etched ganjapa cards or circular playing cards are
highly popular locally. The old sets are also a collector's dream
choice.
Even
at the most basic level Orissan paintings have a colour and vibrancy
that are one of the most effective media of reflecting life. The
painting on walls in Orissa is almost as ancient as time, it seems...
the simple but lovely filigree painting drawn on the walls of the
tribal dwellings is a witness to this exquisite creativity. 
