Souvenir Art: The Divine Comedy of Calcutta’s Kalighat Paintings
In 19th-century Calcutta, bazaar artists created a whole new style that would take the world by storm
Kalighat Painting
The Last Supper
A pioneering Indian modernist, Jamini Roy sought inspiration from tribal Indian design, Kalighat paintings and the art of the Santhal community. He was also moved by Byzantine art and much of his later works, especially those with Christian themes, betray this influence. Many of Roy’s Christ paintings narrated the episode of The Last Supper, a Biblical event in which Jesus shared a final meal with his apostles before the crucifixion.
Untitled (Crucifixion)
Jamini Roy was probably the first artist to depict Christ in an Indian vocabulary. He was looking to test the effectiveness of his bold line and flat colour technique on a subject which was remote from his personal life. Being an orthodox Hindu who had never read the old or new testaments, Roy saw the… Read more »