Patna Museum Revives The Forgotten Patna Qalaam Tradition With Landmark Exhibition

Before the advent of photography, artists in the ancient city of Patna chronicled the essence of everyday life through the ageless manual medium of paint and brush. Their work recorded markets, professions, festivals, faith and everything that entails daily life with a remarkable attention to detail. Sounding something almost akin to miniature paintings in its pursuit of recording daily life, this particular tradition from Patna is known as 'Patna Qalaam'. It flourished in the 19th century, eventually fading out as an everyday piece of sight yet remained etched in memory.

Now, an exhibition entitled 'Patna Qalaam: Ek Virasat,' is currently on display at the Patna Museum, seeking to once again put the art style back in everyday dialogue. Gathering largely from the museum's own collections, the exhibition brings together the rare and carefully preserved examples of this once iconic and celebrated school of painting.

Rare Works On Display

A total of 130 items are on display, including paintings on paper, mica and ivory. Alongside is an album full of 45 folios dating between 1850 and 1856. According to Ashok Kumar Sinha, Additional Director of the Bihar Museum and Patna Museum, this is the first time Patna Qalaam artworks have been displayed at such a scale in the city.

The exhibition also includes works loaned out by private collectors. Among these, notable are the works belonging to Sanjay Kumar Lal, a descendant of estimable Patna Qalaam artist Hulas Lal. Examined, inspected and authenticated by archaeological authorities, these pieces range from the late 19th century to the early decades of the 20th century in time.

Art As A Social Record

Emerging in the 18th century, Patna Qalaam thrived under the patronage of the British during East India Company rule, and later the Raj. The most unique aspect of the Patna Qalaam style is its masterful conflation of miniature painting traditions with the influences of the Western Company School of Painting. The chief motif of the style is its focus on ordinary people; people of everyday life like snake-charmers, bangle sellers, shoeshines, and so on. If you find yourself in perusal of Patna Qalaam works, you'd come to view toddy sellers, washermen, craftsmen, jugglers and students as central subjects rather than the background details, either launched in their jobs or at rest.

Another motif you'll find recurring is the archival of religious rituals and festivals. Muharram processions, Diwali celebrations, Dussehra crowds and proceedings, wedding processions, among others, find colossal portrayal in Patna Qalaam works. For instance, one rare work shows Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi while others depict landmarks such as Golghar and Patna's famous river ghats by the Ganges.

A Window Into 19th-century Patna

Art historians trace that several Patna Qalaam artists were migrants from Murshidabad who settled in what is now seen as Patna City. In patronage of British officials and wealthy patrons, they produced works that were sent back to England as visual records and archives of 'life in India.'

As with most other visual archives, these paintings offer an insightful glimpse into Patna from two centuries ago, using muted colours and lifelike details to capture its social fabric. The tradition thrived until the 1920s, before it lost its relevance with the spread of photography.

Museum Renewal And Future Plans

The exhibition is housed in a newly ordained wing beside the 97-year-old Patna Museum building on Patna-Gaya Road. During conservation work, curators rediscovered the extent of the museum's Patna Qalaam acquisitions, which include a whopping 300 works.

The exhibition, inaugurated on December 17, runs until January 31. Museum officials hope it will pave the way for a permanent gallery dedicated to Patna Qalaam, ensuring the tradition finally receives the attention it deserves.

The Information

Address: Buddh Marg, Lodipur, Patna, Bihar 800001

Timings: 10 am to 5 pm (Tuesdays through Sundays; closed on Mondays)

Entry fees: INR 100 for Indian nationals and INR 500 for foreign nationals

(With inputs from PTI.)

FAQs

What is Patna Qalaam art?
Patna Qalaam is a 19th-century Indian painting tradition that documented everyday life, festivals and occupations in Bihar before photography became widespread.

Where can Patna Qalaam paintings be seen today?
Patna Qalaam works can currently be seen at the Patna Museum as part of the Patna Qalaam: Ek Virasat exhibition.

Why is Patna Qalam considered unique?
Unlike royal miniature paintings, Patna Qalaam focused on ordinary people, daily work, religious rituals and street life with realistic detail.

Who were famous Patna Qalaam artists?
Noted Patna Qalaam artists include Hulas Lal, Shiva Lal and Ishwari Prasad, whose works are now held in museums and private collections.

How long did Patna Qalaam flourish in India?
The Patna Qalaam tradition developed in the late 18th century and continued until the 1920s, declining with the arrival of photography.

When is the Patna Qalaam exhibition open to visitors?
The exhibition at Patna Museum runs from December 17 to January 31 and is open to the public.