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Chitrapothi: An important but little-known art form of Orissa is illustration on palm-leaf that flourished along with the Orissan tradition of copying kavya texts on palm-leaf manuscripts and illuminating them. This art form touched its zenith during the golden age of Oriya kavya literature in the 18th century when a large number of chitra-pothis (illustrated palm-leaf manuscripts) were done.
Chitra-pothi: Illustrated Palm-leaf Manuscripts from Orissa traces the palm-leaf tradition of Orissa and the development of Oriya literature that provides the basis of palm-leaf art. It throws light on the making of the chitra-pothis and the nature of the texts that were illustrated weaving into the larger canvas the patron, the scribe and the artist, as it goes on to analyse palm-leaf art: as illumination of the text and as an art form.
About the Author:
Dr Jagannath Prasad Das is a well-known poet, playwright and fiction writer whose Puri Paintings continues to be a masterly volume on Orissan art. He has also co-authored with Professor Joanna Williams of University of California, Berkeley Palm-leaf Miniatures: The Art of Raghunath Prusti of Orissa. His other publications in English include First Person, Timescapes and Lovelines collections of poems; Before Sunset, The Underdog and Sundardas plays; The Magic Deer, The Forbidden Street and Dear Jester collections of stories. His plays have been translated into several Indian languages and staged in different parts of India. Before Sunset is considered a classic among modern Indian plays. Born in Orissa in 1936, Dr J P Das lives and works in Delhi.
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