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Babu and Bibi Playing Chess

Rs. 140,000
Rs. 140,000
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Certificate of Authenticity available
Customizations available
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Details

Artform

Traditional Kalighat Art, Bengal

Artist

Anwar Chitrakar

Dimensions

22 x 28 In.

Medium

Natural Stone Pigment on Handmade Sheet

Framing

Unframed

Learn More

The Painting

"In this beautiful tableau of domestic beauty, National Award winning Kalighat artist Anwar Chitrakar has depicted a husband and wife duo in the middle of a game of chess. The couple seem to have come to a disagreement while playing the game with the wife throwing up her hand in a dismissive gesture. The words “Babu” and “Bibi” here are common endearments for lovers which makes them a perfect representation of the proverbial lovers. The painting is rendered mostly in pastel shades of blues and green except for the husband who is wearing a dark black kurta and a red scarf. As a game of the urban elite, the choice of chess in the painting clearly shows which class the figures hail from further informing the action of the piece. "

The Artform

"Emerging from the 19th-century Calcutta, Kalighat painting originated near the Kalighat Temple dedicated to the goddess Kali. This art form reflects the dynamic cultural milieu of colonial India and unlike the intricate miniatures of earlier times embraces a simplified and more direct approach, utilising bold lines, vibrant colors, and a touch of caricature to portray a wide range of subjects. Using a limited color palette consisting mainly of vibrant earth tones and bold contrasts, these paintings often depict mythological figures, deities, scenes from daily life, and even social critiques. The style is marked by its expressive yet economical brushwork, lending a certain immediacy to the compositions. "

The Artist

"""Born in 1980, Anwar Chitrakar is a Patua artist with an artistic lineage that stretches back to his father, Amar Chitrakar, who instilled in him the time-honoured techniques of the Kalighat painting style. Hailing from West Bengal, Anwar is part of a small community of Patuas, village artists who craft vertical scroll paintings. These scrolls depict tales of Indian gods and goddesses, mythological figures, and narratives like those of Krishna and Rama. Unlike his fellow Patua artists, he embraced painting professionally at the age of twenty, having previously worked as a tailor due to the limited commercial prospects for folk painters. His late start prompted a desire for innovation, leading him to infuse tradition with his secular and sartorial touch. He melds natural pigments, such as turmeric and marigold, with modern elements, even signing his artworks—a rarity among Patua artists. Apart from the classic cloth-paper scroll, he has also ventured into contemporary mediums like canvas, British paper, and Italian paper. He has participated in several exhibitions both in India and abroad, such as the Berlin Festival 2012, Namaste India Festival Japan 2012, Devi Art Foundation’s “Vernacular in the Contemporary”, and others. His paintings are part of the collection at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Mumbai International Airport, and many important private collections. Anwar Chitrakar won the West Bengal State Award in 2002, the National Award in 2006, and the President’s Award amongst others. The artist resides and works in his village in West Bengal. """

Provenance

The painting has been created by Bridge Bharat’s master artist partners.

Customizations

"Want a unique artwork for that wall at home- one that resonates entirely with you? Please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at aakanksha@bridgebharat.com to discuss your requirements with our team. "

Returns and refunds

Returns are not applicable on made-to-order products. We guarantee a replacement of your product in case of any damages.

Shipping and Delivery

"For artworks that are made to order, the time to prepare each piece differs. Our team will inform you about the preparation time. You will receive updates on the behind-the-scenes prep every 4-5 days- we want you to be a part of the creation process. A ready item will be dispatched within 24 hours of placing the order. The item will be delivered 7-10 days after the product is dispatched. The artwork price is exclusive of shipping charges and insurance. Shipping charges will differ depending on the order size, weight and delivery location. You will be able to calculate shipping charges at checkout. The artwork price is inclusive of 12% GST In the event that the product is rejected by our quality check team, you will be informed about the change of delivery date. "

Other details

"The price you see is for an unframed painting. If you want us to custom frame the artwork, please drop us a message. We highly encourage this, framing is an art by itself :) The artwork you will receive is as close to the original artwork as possible but as with all things handmade, there may be minute differences in color and motifs, truly rendering each artwork one of a kind. Trust the process! "

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