Eye of the Goddess

One of the most recognisable art forms born in India, Kalighat art has a surprising history and journey. It began as a souvenir for visitors to the Kali temple in the Kalighat area of Kolkata, as the style was simple and easy to replicate for multiple products.?

Of course, at that stage the subjects of the paintings were deities like Goddess Kali or stories associated with the religion. Soon however, the paintings began to gain popularity as visual tools for travelling storytellers and monks. The striking forms were easy to understand for the audience and could show everything from a tender moment between lovers, to the mayhem of a battle scene.

Skipping forward a few decades, and around the time of India’s Independence the paintings became a tool for the people to express their pride in their indigenous culture and celebrate homegrown talents. The legendary artist, Late Jamini Roy is credited with bringing the popularity of the Kalighat style to the mainstream. He is also widely recognised for changing the mostly devotional theme of the paintings to reflect the everyday lives of rural folk around villages in Bengal.?

Kalighat paintings in the modern era continued to showcase women in everyday lives, but with an empowered lens that likens them to embodiments of Goddess Kali for whom the art was first made. This was especially thanks to the distinctive way in which the art shows the eyes of the figures. Boldly outlined with a small pupil in the centre, the eyes of Kalighat paintings seem to stare deep within your soul with their unsoftened gaze.?

A gaze we at Shaya felt deeply within our creative minds as we designed our new Evil Eye collection inspired by Kalighat paintings. We hope we did justice to the storied art, and would love for you to have a look and let us know!