Kalamkari Painting of Andhra Pradesh is arguably the most complex of Indian folk arts.
This is both in terms of technique and treatment, as could be gleaned from this
handpicked kalamkari from Srikalahasthi. No less than seventeen steps precede
the finished work, which includes preparing the fabric canvas (cotton, in this
case), making the dyes from vegetable-based sources, and putting together the
richly layered lines that define the composition.
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| Lord Shiva Parvati Paintings On the Back of Nandi |
The painting
depicts the Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati in their togetherness, seated on the
back of their beloved bull, Nandi. From the richly embroidered dhotis they are
wearing to the intricate shringar starting from the crown downwards, it all
betrays a breathtakingly keen attention to detail. Zooming in on each aspect of
the painting would enable you to appreciate the dexterity with which the pen
has been wielded by the artist. In fact, the word ‘kalamkari’ means penmanship,
wherein the ‘pen’ is a rudimentary instrument fashioned from a sturdy twig.
The beauty
and shringar of Nandi in this composition is matchless. The long, tattooed
tail; jewels descending from His underbelly; and the ornaments surrounding the
lifelike eye exposed to view. A vast halo-aureole encompasses both the figures
on His back. A uniform pattern of zigzag lines and curves frames the
composition.
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