Shekkhopir-deshe Scroll: Process (painting)

Description

While illustrating the story of Shekkhopir-deshe Durbhikkho, the artists faced many challenges when it came to painting the scroll narrative. The early modern English context was entirely unfamiliar to them. Working with the descriptions and some visual references, such as an old map of England and historic portraits of key figures in the narrative (Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I), the patachitrakars found ways to paint the subject in their own style. This process of appropriation can be followed through the images and videos here. The painting began, as usual, with a pencilled outline of the entire story. Colours were prepared and the panels painted collectively by the chitrakar community over a number of days.

Creator

Chitrakar, Dukhushyam
Chitrakar, Jahanara
Chitrakar, Mahim
Chitrakar, Rabbani
Chitrakar, Rahim
Chitrakar, Rahman
Chitrakar, Ushiara

Source

Hugh Platt, Remedies for Famine (London: 1596).
William Shakespeare, Henry IVParts 1 and 2.
"Famine", "Of Dearth", "Gluttony", in Englands Parnassus, ed. Robert Allott (London: 1600).

Publisher

University of Exeter

Date

2020-02

Contributor

Dutta, Shrutakirti
Halder, Bhagirath
Holding, Richard
Long, Lily
Mondal, Sujit
Mukherjee, Ayesha
Spence, Connor

Rights

CC BY-NC

Format

Natural colours on cartridge paper backed with cotton cloth

Type

Making of scroll

Coverage

England; 1595-98

Duration

1 month