A Couple in Kalighat by Uttam Chitrakar

This Kalighat painting by Uttam Chitrakar is a charming contemporary adaptation of the Bengali folk tradition, depicting a modern couple engaged in a lighthearted, everyday moment within a stylized natural landscape. Originating in 19th-century Kolkata, West Bengal, Kalighat painting is renowned for its bold contours, fluid linework, and its historical transition from purely religious themes to secular social commentary, capturing the shifting dynamics of urban and domestic life with humor and elegance.

This work specifically draws from the classic Babu-Bibi genre, a central satirical theme of 19th-century Kalighat art that poked fun at the lifestyle, vanity, and superficial modernization of the wealthy Bengali elite, or Babus, and their consorts, the Bibis. Traditionally, these paintings mocked the Babus for adopting Western mannerisms and indulging in idle pleasures, often depicting them smoking hookahs, oiling their hair, or pandering to their partners. In this modern reimagining, Uttam Chitrakar updates the traditional satire for the 21st century, replacing the classic mirrors and luxury items of the colonial era with the ultimate symbol of modern self-absorption: the smartphone.

At the center of this narrative is the contemporary Babu and Bibi standing together in a meadow. The man stands tall on the right, rendered with a sharp profile and an affectionate expression turned toward his partner. He wears a deep navy-blue kurta decorated with white circular motifs, an intricate orange shawl draped over his shoulders and a traditional white dhoti with fine black borders.

In a brilliant nod to contemporary life, he holds a smartphone high in his right hand, tilting the screen down to frame a selfie of himself and his partner. The woman sits gracefully on a low stool to the left, looking up at the device with a soft smile. She is attired in a vibrant cerulean-blue sari with white floral motifs, a red blouse and a heavy arrangement of white pearl necklaces, holding a small red flower delicately in her right hand.

The landscape provides a lush, balanced backdrop that bridges folk sensibilities with structured design. The couple stands before a massive, stylized tree with deep reddish-brown branches and dense green foliage that extends across the upper half of the canvas. Perched within the branches and soaring through the sky are several colorful, patterned birds drawn with whimsical, folk silhouettes.

Below the horizon line, the foreground unfolds into a dense meadow of wild grass. The field is completely filled with grass bearing small red, yellow and blue flowers, creating a vibrant pattern that frames the couple and roots the scene in a joyful, celebratory atmosphere.

The painting features the Kalighat school’s signature economy of line, utilizing broad, sweeping contours to define the volume of the garments and rhythmic patterning to texture the natural landscape. The color palette is striking yet balanced, relying on the vibrant contrast between the deep navy and cerulean of the couple's attire against the bright greens and earthy reds of nature. This work beautifully captures the evolving spirit of the Kalighat tradition, seamlessly merging the timeless, expressive energy of Bengal’s folk heritage with a playful snapshot of modern human connection.

Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the artwork.

View Sample Here

The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.

Customisation

Most artworks can be customised in terms of colours, size and elements to fit your requirements.

For custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Framing Services

No, we currently sell artworks unframed (unless explicitly mentioned otherwise) and do not provide framing services.

We ship worldwide.

Domestic Orders

All prices are inclusive of GST and applicable Indian taxes.

• We offer free shipping on orders above ₹1999 for all artworks, except Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri.
• A flat shipping rate of ₹499 applies to orders below ₹1999.

Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri

Shipping is charged on a per-kilogram basis, due to the delicate and bulky nature of these items.

International Orders

• A flat shipping charge of ₹4,000 applies to international artwork orders.
• Customs duties, taxes, or import charges in the buyer’s country are not included and must be borne by the buyer.
• Shipping rates for Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri artworks will be calculated based on weight.

Additonal Shipping Charges

Extra charges may be applicable for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:

• If the article requires additional packaging (such as a wooden crate) to ensure safe shipping due to its delicate nature.
• Custom-framed artworks.
• Artworks where shorter side exceeds 36 inches or Decor items with any side over 35 inches.
• If you request express shipping. Contact support to check availability.
• The order contains more than two different product types.

You can proceed with your purchase, and our team will contact you to confirm any applicable additional shipping charges before processing your order. Alternatively, reach out to us on WhatsApp or email, and we'll assist you in completing your purchase with the final pricing.

All artworks are handmade and couriered securely in transit safe packaging sutaible for the artwork.

Due to high demand for artworks from this artist, the delivery timelines are currently 1-3 weeks.

If you are on a tight deadline, please reach out to us on WhatsApp or email to discuss your requirements.

Once your order is placed, our team stays in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.

All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.

All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.