Mata Lakshmi in Kalighat by Uttam Chitrakar

This Kalighat painting by Uttam Chitrakar is a regal portrayal of Mata Lakshmi, rendered with the bold contours, voluminous forms and fluid brushwork that characterize this 19th-century folk art tradition. Originating near the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal, this school of painting seamlessly blends sacred iconography with regional design elements, creating images that are both deeply devotional and graphically powerful.

At the center of this composition, the Goddess of Wealth and Fortune, Lakshmi features the classic Kalighat almond-shaped eyes, an elegant nose ring and long flowing black hair. She is dressed in an exquisite red sari adorned with detailed white borders and pearl-like jewellery. In her raised right hand, she delicately holds stalks of golden grain, a direct symbol of agricultural abundance and thriving prosperity.

The iconography of her throne is imaginative, introducing an interesting regional interpretation. Instead of a singular bird, Goddess Lakshmi sits atop a stylized, symmetrical structure formed by two large owls (lokkhi pecha). The owls' elongated, curved bodies wrap upward on either side of the goddess like the arms of a royal chariot. Their brown plumage is rendered using meticulous, repetitive scale-like patterns, and their oversized, wide eyes look directly at the viewer, symbolizing vigilance and hidden wisdom. Perched directly atop each owl's head is a sacred terracotta kalash (pot) sprouting a fan of golden grain, reinforcing the theme of overflowing fortune.

The background is a deep blue that provides a cool, dramatic contrast to the warm reds and golds of the goddess, a classic technique in Kalighat tradition that highlights the main subject. At the very top of the canvas, the artist has included draped green curtains with elegant white highlights, a theatrical framing device borrowed from 19th-century European stage designs that is a traditional signature of classical Kalighat compositions.

The painting features the Kalighat school’s signature economy of line, utilizing broad, sweeping strokes to define the fluid shape of the goddess's posture and fine white stippling to texture her extensive jewelry. The color palette is striking yet balanced, relying on the vibrant contrast between the deep background and the rich tones of the central figures. This work beautifully captures the essence of the Kalighat tradition, merging the auspicious grandeur of the Goddess of with the spirited, expressive energy of Bengal’s folk heritage.

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.

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

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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.