The Kalighat paintings are an evolution of ‘Patachitra’ a visual storytelling style that takes the form of painted scrolls, depicting sequential scenes from stories, legends and myths. The origins of this ancient folk art are unclear and there are two main theories behind their beginnings. Historians believe the art form stems from tribal beginnings and others believe that Patachitra began under the Mauryan Empire, from 322-185BC. Patachitra subjects began with religion and folklore, nowadays the paintings depict contemporary events like terrorist attacks, tsunamis and earthquakes. Whilst the traditional style of the Patachitra has remained constant for thousands of years, the depicted subjects have seen a shift with the passage of time.

Kalighat paintings have participated in the emergence of Bengali identity in the colonial capital in the face of the increasing Europe­anization of the city’s intellectual and cultural life. During this period, the British were altering their position from merchants vulnerable to the grace and protection of Indian sovereigns to monarchs of the territory. Anthropologist Mil­ton Singer’s term “cosmopolitan folk culture” aptly describes these paintings.

The market for Kalighat paintings expanded rapidly through the 19th century to include not just Hindu villagers coming to the urban metropolis but also resident bankers and mer­chants from the region of Marwar in Rajasthan in western India, English administrators, and European missionaries and travellers. Kalighat paintings were carried back as mementoes to Britain, Russia, Czechoslovakia, France, and the United States. English scholars and cultural figureheads in India including Sir Monier Monier-Williams and Lockwood Kipling amassed vast personal collections, which are now housed in the Bodleian Library and Victoria and Albert Museum respectively.