From goddesses to gossip: The many stories of Kalighat paintings

Kalighat paintings, originating from the Kalighat Kali temple, were small, single-sheet artworks created by painters adapting from narrative scrolls used by the Patua community. These paintings, characterized by bold outlines and vibrant colors, served as portable souvenirs for pilgrims, allowing them to take home a visual reminder of the temple and its deities.

Beyond goddesses, Kalighat paintings depicted various aspects of society and history, reflecting changing social identities, British influence, and contemporary scandals.

A notable subject in these paintings was the Tarakeswar case of 1873, involving a young married woman named Elokeshi and the head priest of the Shiva temple, Madhavchandra Giri. Elokeshi's husband killed her after becoming aware of their affair, leading to criminal proceedings and public discourse. Kalighat painters produced a series of images depicting the case, which not only expressed judgment on the characters involved but also brought a contemporary scandal into the market alongside images of goddesses, fashionable gentlemen, and other subjects. These paintings became a visual record of the evolving society in nineteenth-century Bengal.