Pattachitra Art - Small Framed Painting. The origin of the Pattachitra paintings can be traced back to the 8th century AD and it is considered as one of the earliest forms of indigenous paintings. Pattachitra or painting on cloth is among the most distinct forms of traditional painting in Orissa, and were generally created in the form of scrolls. The iconic paintings depict religious themes. The Pattachitra has its roots in the schematic paintings of the Jagannath Temple as an important art form used in the ornamentation of Lord Jagannath in the innermost sanctum. The traditional colors used in the Pattachitra are obtained from natural sources.