How to Authenticate a Pichwai Painting: Key Signs to Know

Check the Materials: Cloth, pigments and brushes
Handmade vs Print: How to Tell?
1. How to spot a fake painting?

Known for their intricate linework, lush lotuses and celestial depictions of Shrinathji, Pichwai painting is not just art, it is a sacred offering. Originating from the temple town of Nathdwara over 400 years ago, these hand-painted cloth scrolls were traditionally used as backdrops for devotional rituals in Shreenathji temples. Today, Pichwai has moved from the walls of sanctums and temples to contemporary homes and galleries, drawing attention and demand from collectors, connoisseurs and admirers alike. With this popularity comes the risk of imitation.

As the market is flooded with digitally printed reproductions and machine-made artworks, distinguishing an authentic Pichwai from a fake becomes both a skill and a responsibility. Whether as a collector or a first-time buyer, knowing what to look for in terms of brushwork, materials, motifs and provenance is essential to preserve the integrity of this living tradition.

This blog will briefly walk you through the important markers of authenticity, to ensure that every Pichwai you bring home carries not just beauty, but truth.

Check the Materials: Cloth, pigments and brushes

While Pichwai artworks are traditionally hand-painted on cotton or sometimes fine silk, now artists also use a variety of bases like handmade paper, canvas, mdf, etc. Most Pichwai paintings are made using colors made of natural pigments and minerals like ochre, indigo, turmeric, etc., while some artists may also use watercolors or acrylic paints. Make sure that you know what the base and material being used is, and that the seller is honest about the material being used. Colors made of natural pigments have rich, earthy tones with a matte, layered texture, giving the colors a subtle depth and variation, unlike synthetic water colors and acrylic colors that give a plastic-like shine. Natural pigments age gracefully, slightly mellowing over time, adding to the charm of the Pichwai, but they don’t peel or fade drastically like synthetic paints. With paintings made using natural pigments, the work might seem slightly uneven or textured due to hand-mixing and layer application. Brushstrokes are visible up close. Pichwai artists often use real gold or silver leafing in the paintings, which only the authentic paintings have. Genuine works use squirrel‑hair or goat‑hair brushes for fine strokes, avoiding thick or uneven lines.

Shrinathji Resplendence: Pichwai painting by Jayesh Sharma

Observe the technique and layers

For hand-drawn Pichwais, even similar themes, like Krishna with cows, will show subtle variations, bearing hallmarks of artisanal craftsmanship and not mechanised repetition. Hand-painting reveals slight raised textures where multiple layers were applied. If the paint is flat or uniform, it suggests shortcut production. The gold and silver leaf application should be seamless and integrated, covering the base paint cleanly. Sloppy foil work or simply using gold or silver synthetic paint is a red flag.

Divine Harmony – Shrinathji’s grace through Pichwai art by Dinesh Soni

Inspect iconography and motifs

Authentic Pichwai paintings usually center around Shrinathji (a manifestation of Krishna at the age of seven). He is depicted with a dark skin tone - shown as a deep blue or black in paintings. His raised left arm is symbolic of the Lifting of Mount Govardhan. He is dressed in colorful robes according to the season, time, occasion, etc. There are as many as 365 dresses for each day, with special clothes for festivals. He often wears ornaments made of pearls and lotus buds, and a peacock - feather headdress. His hair is shown in a braid, with him carrying a stick or his flute, both symbolic of his life as a cowherder. Two to three offerings are generally kept by his feet - beeda, jal dani (water vessel), prasad box, etc. He is often surrounded by cows, lotuses, peacocks, gopis, acharyas (priests) etc.

Enchanting Shrinathji: Pichwai painting by Jayesh Sharma

Traditional Pichwais depict festive themes as per the Pushtimarg calendar. They showcase various festivals and occasions like Raas Leela, Govardhan Puja, Annakoot, Sharad Purnima, Holi and reflect ritual-specific dress and decoration. The various symbols in Pichwai paintings carry deep meanings. The lotus symbolises purity, the cows depict devotion, and the role of Krishna as a cowherd or Gopala. They are usually seen with golden ornamentations and henna handprints on their body, indicating his divine touch and presence. Peacocks represent cosmic beauty, which is finely detailed and purposeful, not generic decoration.

Divine Dance of Lord Krishna: Pichwai Painting by Jayesh Sharma

Look for physical and provenance clues

Unless exceptionally large in size, genuine works are painted on a single sheet, not on multiple panels stitched together. Before buying a Pichwai painting, be sure to check the information about the artist’s name and location. Always ask for a certificate of authenticity. Ensure that the product you are buying is from a trusted seller that sources it directly from the artists, or from government organizations or artist villages. Check for the context or story behind the artwork. The artists and platforms will happily share the meaning behind their work.

Tales of Lord Krishna: Pichwai Painting by Jayesh Sharma

Handmade vs Print: How to Tell?

If you are not sure whether an artwork is hand-drawn or printed, try these steps:

Use a magnifying glass or zoom-in feature on your phone. Machine prints will show uniform dot patterns or pixelation. Feel the surface of the painting, hand-painted works have a variety of textures such as raised paint, visible brush strokes or small imperfections. A look at the back of the painting can also speak about its nature, a genuine painting on paper will sometimes have minor paint bleed or smudges.

How to spot a fake painting?

Watch out for these signs while buying an authentic Pichwai artwork:

If there is no artist name or information about the artist mentioned, or there is a vague painting label, the piece might be an imitation.

If you see many perfectly identical pieces being sold, it indicates mass production, as each artwork that is hand-painted even by the same artist has differences and cannot look identical.

If the artwork has a glossy finish that looks printed or coated, it is likely to be a print, as hand-painted artworks have texture.

If the Pichwai has a very generic theme, one that is not related to Krishna themes, it is probably a modern tourist copy with random scenes, and not the typical subjects of Pichwai tradition

Last but not the least, if the Pichwai paintings are being sold at prices that seem too good to be true, they are imitations. Any hand-painted artwork is priced taking into consideration the cost of the materials as well as the time, effort and skill required by the artist to create it, thus making authentic handmade artworks being priced higher than mass-produced ones.

In a world of fast reproductions and digital prints, choosing an authentic Pichwai is not just a purchase, it is a commitment to preserve a sacred artistic heritage. Each hand-painted Pichwai carries within it the devotion of the artist, the rhythm of temple traditions and the rich visual language of Pushtimarg. By learning to identify authentic Pichwais through materials, technique, iconography and provenance, we not only honour the legacy of Nathdwara’s master artists but also ensure that this timeless tradition continues to flourish.

As collectors, admirers, or first-time buyers, let us choose with care and reverence, so that every Pichwai we bring into our homes brings in the sacred presence and blessings of Shrinathji, while honouring the hands that painted him.

Check out our entire Pichwai collection here

To know more in depth about Pichwai paintings, their history, themes, motifs, significance etc., read our other blogs -