KALAMKARI PAINTING

RELEVANCE – UPSC GS PRELIMS & GS MAINS –I
First go through the text (given after the questions) and then attempt the questions
UPSC PRELIMS 2015

QUES . Kalamkari painting refers to__:
(a) hand-painted cotton textile in South India
(b) a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India
(c) a block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India
(d) a hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India

ANSWER . (a)

KALAMKARI  PAINTINGS
  • The literal meaning of Kalamkari is a painting done by kalam (pen).
  • This art got enriched as it came down from one generation to another.
  • These paintings are made in Andhra Pradesh.

Kalamkari Design

  • It is hand painted as well as block printing with vegetable dyes applied on cloth. 
  • Vegetable dyes are used for colour in the Kalam Kari work.
  • A small place Sri-Kalahasti is the best known centre of Kalamkari art.
  • This work is also found at Masaulipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Painting Styles...Kalamkari Paintings (Andhra Pradesh)-saraswathi1-11-.jpg

  • This art is mainly related to decorating temple interiors with painted clothpanels, which was developed in the fifteenth century under the patronage of Vijaynagar rulers.
  • Subjects are adopted from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and Hindu religious mythology.
  • This art form is a continuous legacy from father to son.
  • After deciding the subject of the painting, scène after scene is painted.
  • Every scene is surrounded by floral decorative patterns.
  • These paintings are made on cloth. They are very durable and flexible in size and made according to theme.
  • Figures of deities have a very rich border embellishments and were created for the temples.
  • Owing to Muslim rulers in Golconda,the Masulipatnam kalamkari was widely influenced by Persian motifs and designs.
  • The outlines and main features are done using hand carved blocks.
  • The finer details are later done using the pen.
  • This art was started on garments, bed covers and curtains. The artists use a bamboo or date palm stick pointed at one end with a bundle of fine hair attached tothe other end to serve as brush or pen.
  • The kalamkari dyes are obtained by extracting colours from plant roots, leaves, along with salts of iron, tin, copper, alum etc.

kalamkari paintings

STYLES  OF  KALAMKARI  PAINTINGS
1 .  Masulipatnam Kalamkari

Owing to Muslim rule in Golconda, the Masulipatnam Kalamkari was influenced by Persian motifs & designs, widely adapted to suit their taste. The outlines and main features are done using hand carved blocks. The finer details are later done using the pen.

2 . Sri Kalahasti Style

The Kalahasti tradition which developed in the temple region mostly concentrated on themes form Hindu mythology, epics (Ramayana, Mahabharatha), images of Gods and heroes.

3 . Karrupur Style

Karrupur is a style of Kalamkari that developed in the Thanjavur region during the Maratha rule. The Kalamkari work was a further embellishment to the gold brocade work in the woven fabric, which was used as sarees & dhotis by the royal family during the period of Raja Sarfoji and later Raja Shivaji.