Kalighat Art

Kalighat Painting – Bold Strokes of Tradition and Satire

Born in the bustling lanes near the Kalighat Temple in 19th-century Kolkata, Kalighat painting emerged as a vibrant, expressive art form that captured the spiritual, the social, and the satirical—all on a single piece of cloth. With bold outlines, vivid colours, and striking simplicity, this style marked a break from the intricate narrative scrolls of earlier folk art traditions.

Originally created by patuas—itinerant artist-storytellers from rural Bengal—Kalighat paintings began as depictions of gods, goddesses, and epics like the Ramcharitmanas. Over time, they evolved into commentaries on everyday life, colonial influence, and social reform, making Kalighat one of India’s earliest forms of popular urban art.

The Craft Behind the Art

Kalighat paintings are instantly recognizable for their minimal backgrounds, fluid brushwork, and expressive figures. Artisans use a limited yet striking palette of homemade dyes, typically:

• Red, yellow, green, black, and blue from natural sources
• Gold and silver accents for ornamentation
• Handmade brushes for distinct, sweeping outlines

Each piece is completed with speed, precision, and emotional intensity—turning simplicity into elegance.

Penkraft® Kalighat Painting Online Course

Rediscover the bold beauty of Kalighat art with Penkraft’s structured, 20-hour certified online course—specially designed for learners of all levels.

What You’ll Learn:

• Introduction to acrylic colours and their role in Kalighat art
• Techniques for sketching expressive figures and applying bold outlines
• Step-by-step guidance on using colour and maintaining the genre’s minimalism
• Creating Kalighat paintings on unique surfaces like:
  • Canvas
  • Cloth tote bags
  • MDF photo frames
• Tips, do’s and don’ts for brush care, colour mixing, and traditional themes
• Insights into storytelling through posture, facial expression, and gesture

Each module unlocks progressive techniques and projects—encouraging creativity while staying true to Kalighat's powerful visual language.

Why Choose Penkraft®?

• Learn at your own pace
• Hands-on, immersive lessons
• No prior art experience required
• Expert-led modules with assignments
• Certification upon completion

Bring home the bold elegance of 19th-century Bengal.
Create art that speaks volumes—with the Penkraft® Kalighat Art Course.

All the tools and material needed for the course are provided by us as a single ready-to-use kit and the student has the option to choose to buy this online here. The read-to-use kit shall reach your registered address by courier approximately within a week after you have bought it online here. The course duration starts after you have submitted the OTP you have received at the time of subscribing. So, please ensure you put in the OTP only after you have received the kit! Here’s the list of contents of the kit:-

• Cartridge Papers – 02
• Cloth Bag – 01
• MDF Round Base – 01
• Canvas – 01
• Brush No. 000 – 01
• Brush No. 03 – 01
• Acrylic Colours – 01