Kalighat Paintings – Bengal Folk Art
Explore original handcrafted Kalighat paintings inspired by the folk-art traditions of Bengal and Kolkata. Discover the artists, subjects and expressive visual language behind devotional, mythological, cultural and everyday-life artworks at Treasure Of India.
What Is Kalighat Painting?
Kalighat painting developed around the Kalighat area of Kolkata and is associated with simplified figures, bold outlines, expressive gestures and fluid painted forms. Subjects include Hindu deities and mythological stories as well as scenes reflecting Bengali social and everyday life.
Explore Kalighat Art by Subject
Discover Durga, Krishna, Lakshmi, Ganesha and other devotional subjects alongside Bengali wedding scenes, dance and cultural narratives. Open each artwork to understand its specific subject, medium, dimensions and artist information.
The Artists Behind Kalighat Art
Traditional art becomes easier to understand when the artist and creative context are visible. Explore our artist profiles and discover the wider range of Indian traditions through the Craft Map of India.
Buy Kalighat Paintings
Browse Kalighat paintings by subject, artist, dimensions and price. For high-value or one-of-a-kind artworks, review the individual product information or contact Treasure Of India before purchasing for additional details.
Collect Art That Keeps Tradition Visible
When an artwork finds a home, the artist gains visibility and an opportunity to continue creating. Collecting handmade Kalighat art can therefore become part of a wider cycle of art, recognition, encouragement, continued creation and heritage preservation.
Explore More Indian Paintings
Browse Indian paintings across regional traditions and discover how different artists interpret India's cultural heritage through their work.
Kalighat painting buying guide: choosing an original Bengal patua work
Kalighat painting began in nineteenth-century Kolkata, around the Kalighat Kali temple. Patuas, Bengal's traditional scroll painters, created quick, bold paintings on paper for pilgrims to take home. The style is known for its sweeping brush outlines, rounded figures, flat bright colours and plain backgrounds. Paintings in this collection are hand-painted by patua artists Putul Chitrakar and Chandan Chitrakar.
How to recognise an original Kalighat painting
- Visible brushwork: a single confident stroke forms each outline, with natural changes in thickness. Prints show flat, even lines and a dot pattern under magnification.
- Paper texture: paint sits on the surface of the paper and you can see slight overlaps where colours meet.
- Signature and certificate: every painting here ships with a signed certificate of authenticity naming the artist.
Popular Kalighat subjects
- Goddess Durga and Kali: the most requested subjects, often chosen for pooja rooms and Durga Puja gifting. See all Durga paintings.
- Radha Krishna: a gentle choice for bedrooms and living rooms. See Radha Krishna paintings across crafts.
- Fish, birds and animals: the cat with a fish and other animal studies are classic Kalighat motifs with a playful feel, well suited to modern homes.
- Narrative scrolls: long, multi-scene works that tell a full story, for collectors and large walls.
Price guide
Kalighat paintings here currently range from ₹1,990 for small single-figure works to ₹1,25,000 for large narrative scrolls. Price depends mainly on size, the number of figures and the level of detail, and on the artist.
Framing and care
Kalighat paintings are on paper, so frame them behind glass or acrylic with a mount that keeps the paper off the glass. Hang them away from direct sun and damp walls. Dust the frame, not the painting.
Why buy from Treasure of India
- Original paintings by named Bengal patua artists.
- Signed certificate of authenticity with every painting.
- Video call on request to see a painting before you buy, or visit our gallery in Palam Vihar, Gurugram.
- Free delivery in India on orders of ₹2,999 and above, and worldwide shipping in 2 to 3 weeks.
Read more in our Kalighat painting guide.