Kalighat painting showing Ganesha
Kalighat painting depicting Ganesha, a deity from the Hindu pantheon.
Kalighat painting is a term used to denote a popular form of image-making that originated in West Bengal, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Kalighat artists produced paintings that reflected the local history, mythology, customs and conflicts of a colonised society in Bengal. These paintings are recognised for their prominent use of bright colours, simplified images and bold brushstrokes.