Artwork
Work in Progress
Work in Progress is a paint painting by Anwar Chitrakar. It dates from 2011 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The artist has laid down the bold outlines, blocked in the black and white shapes, and left the fine details for last.
This ink and watercolor on paper shows how a Kalighat painting is built step by step. The artist has laid down the bold outlines, blocked in the black and white shapes, and left the fine details for last. We see a scene with three women, one seated apart, that spins the usual babu and bibi story in a fresh way.
Anwar Chitrakar keeps the 200-year-old Kalighat method alive in 2011. He lets us peek behind the curtain at the order of work: big shapes first, then faces, clothes, and shading.
Check out more Anwar Chitrakar.
Overview
This Kalighat painting by Anwar Chitrakar illustrates the traditional steps involved in creating such a work.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts three women, likely referencing the babu and bibi theme, with the addition of a third figure, possibly representing a neglected wife.
Technique & Style
The artist has captured the process of creating a Kalighat painting, showing bold outlines, blocked-in black and white shapes, and fine details left for last.
History & Provenance
Anwar Chitrakar continued the 200-year-old Kalighat painting tradition in 2011, offering a glimpse into the method's sequential process.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anwar Chitrakar paints in the Kalighat tradition, a 19th-century style from Calcutta that turned everyday scenes into bold, witty scrolls.
