Patua Art

‘Patua scroll painting’ is an art form native to West Bengal. The paintings are traditionally made from handmade paper, backed with cloth. Scrolls are typically 8 to 15 feet long and contain vibrantly painted scenes of a mythology or history story. Indigenous plants and minerals are still used to create the paint, including turmeric, vermillion, and burnt rice. Sap of the bel (wood-apple) fruit is used as mordant. As the scroll is unrolled frame by frame, the artist narrates mythological and historical stories through song, which typically lasts five to fifteen minutes.The art form is now increasingly being used on smaller paintings and utility items made from wood and metal as well. Patua scroll painters wander from village to village singing stories about pictures depicted in their scrolls and make a living. Their stories also depict Hindu saints and Muslim saints. With changing times, the Patuas have crafted their message accordingly. Now they create scrolls reflecting social issues, such as literacy and environment. With globalization, Potuas are responding with stories featuring international issues, but with a local twist.