5 Best Artforms from West Bengal

West Bengal, which is situated in the eastern region of India and has the Himalayan Mountains towards its north as well as the Sunderbans towards its south, is influenced by all the colours of Natural Beauty. 

The most tenacious independence fighters, top intellectuals, most renowned artists and philosophers, famous public figures, and exceptionally gifted musicians and performers have all come from this state. In addition to generating a few of India's brightest brains, the state also served as the birthplace of St. Mother Teresa, the indefatigable missionary from Kolkata. 

Many excellent craftspeople in India consider West Bengal their home. Art aficionados from all around the world adore the crafts of Bengal for their distinctive rustic and ethereal appeal. The region has a distinctive speciality in several different types of craft, including metallic crafts, sculpting, needlework, and drawing. The centuries-old traditional and famous handicrafts of Kolkata are being so skillfully adapted to meet modern needs that it appears that these craftspeople, in addition to their indigenous abilities, are now experts in the art of surviving. Even if you don't know much about arts and crafts, you'll be enthralled by distinctive handicrafts from West Bengal.

Artforms from West Bengal

Dhokra Art

It has become one of the best handicrafts in West Bengal, and it bears the name of its practitioners. It is essentially the technique of using plaster, wax, and hot metal to create sculptures, jewellery, statues, and many other ornamental items. The wonderful thing regarding Dokra metal crafts is that there is no copy of any piece that has ever been manufactured; they are all wholly unique. 

The art is considered to be the first to employ a non-ferrous metal and its alloys, which don't include iron like brass (a combination of copper and zinc) or bronze (a mixture of copper and tin).

It applies the annealing technique, in which a metal is warmed at extremely high temperatures and then given time to cool gradually.

Both the conventional hollow-casting procedure and solid casting are used to complete the casting. While hollow casting is employed in the Central and Eastern parts of India, solid casting is more common in Telangana.

Madhubani Art

The ancient civilization of Mithila, where Sita, the child of king Janak, is claimed to have been born, is also where Madhubani art is believed to have been created. It still thrives as a domestic craft, mostly via societal norms and practices. The desire for this style of art is increasing, so artists are no longer limited to painting on surfaces and are now also painting on boards, paper, and other materials.

The concepts of dualism, which run polarities in dualisms such as day or night, etc., are the foundation of the ongoing heritage of Madhubani art. They depict a whole cosmos that is populated with gods, the sun, the moon, vegetation, and wildlife, among other things. Additionally, it has tantric, Buddhist, Islamic Sufi, and traditional Hindu motifs.

Read More: Madhubani Painting - The amazing history of Mithila Painting

Studio Pottery

Another well-known handicraft is traditional studio pottery, which is produced in a variety of elegant forms. In West Bengal's rural areas, pottery is largely common. This beautiful art form results in the production of different objects that are extremely beautiful and work best as home decor options. Even though the art of pottery dates back to ancient times, the objects produced are modern and elegant. 

A long-standing tradition inside the province is pottery making, which is an indigenous craft. West Bengal's Bankura, Murshidabad, and Midnapore regions are among the best known for producing this art. Despite the differences in their intended uses, they are all composed of clay. But for all of them, the fundamental guidelines and processes are essentially the same.

Read More: Facts About Studio Pottery You Never Knew

Kantha Embroidery Work

This is a type of traditional Bengali needlework that uses mostly flower, bird, and wildlife themes. It may be performed across both cotton and silk fabrics. It is mostly utilised on the Kurtas and sarees that make up the inhabitants' traditional apparel for males and females. In addition to this, comforters, bed sheets, napkins, and other items also include Kantha themes.

Kantha, which literally translates to "Patched Cloth," is a term used to refer to the ancient handcraft of West Bengal. Quilting has a unique importance in Kantha. Kantha is a perfect example of expert knowledge. Because the ragged, worn-out fabrics that would have otherwise been thrown in the bin were used to resuscitate this wonderful embroidered item.

Depending on the kind, Kantha came in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. Simple circular knitting stitches in white thread, modelled after the classic sari edges, are used to join the layers of fabric. The pattern will be first traced, and then coloured strings from saris' coloured borders are used to complete the gaps.

Sholapith Craft

Exquisite "Sholapith" crafts made of milky-white spongy wood are another well-known handcraft. The Sola plant, which belongs to the bean family and is typically found in swampy, waterlogged places, provided the fabric for the construction. The term "Sholapith" refers to the plant's cortex, which is around 1.5 inches in diameter and utilised in crafts to create a variety of lovely and delicate ornamental things.

The look of shola pith seems to be very similar to that of synthetic thermocol. Nevertheless, the former is superior to the latter in the sense of quality, particularly with regard to flexibility, texture, gloss, and moistness. Intricate headpieces for the bridal pair, garland, beautiful fans, creatures, animals, dolls, pictures of divinities, wildlife, palanquins, flowers, and other objects are made with it.

West Bengal is renowned around the world for its craftsmanship and art. Within that state, there are countless different crafts that all claim to win your heart. Apart from the above-mentioned art forms, there are various other famous handicrafts of West Bengal such as hand-painted, warli art, wood carvings, jute, weaving of muslin cloth, batik painting, clay dolls, Bankura horses, etc. These stunning products are made with handmade techniques and are a great addition to your house. Explore different types of products at ExclusiveLane for a better understanding. 

Read More:

Famous Artforms from Maharashtra

Famous Artforms from Bihar

Kalamkari: An Ancient Style of Hand Painting

Iron Handicrafts - Famous Iron Products of India