Lord Vishnu in Makara Boat Cloth and Paper Kalighat Painting

This Kalighat painting on cloth and paper portrays a lively mythological river journey, blending divine presence with festive courtly life in the distinctive Kalighat folk style. At the center of the composition is Lord Vishnu, identified by his blue complexion and serene expression, reclining gracefully inside an ornate makara-shaped boat. The boat, richly decorated with scrolling floral motifs and a sculpted bird-like prow, glides across stylized waters filled with lotus flowers and floating leaves, creating a rhythmic visual flow. Surrounding Vishnu are elegantly dressed female attendants, shown mid-gesture with flywhisks, fans, and musical instruments. Their animated poses, tilted heads, and expressive almond-shaped eyes convey movement, devotion, and celebration, as if accompanying the deity in a royal procession. Vishnus relaxed posture contrasts beautifully with the lively attendants, reinforcing his divine calm amid worldly motion. The makaras large wing and curved neck dominate the left side, adding both symbolic protection and visual drama to the scene. The river is depicted through repeated horizontal lines, a classic Kalighat technique that maintains flatness while suggesting motion. Lotus buds and leaves punctuate the water surface, while dense green foliage arches across the top of the painting, framing the narrative like a natural canopy. The palette is warm and harmoniousreds, oranges, greens, and bluesoutlined with confident black lines. A bold decorative border encloses the scene, enhancing its iconic, shrine-like quality. Executed on cloth and paper, this painting reflects the Kalighat artists skill in transforming mythological themes into accessible, story-rich imagery that feels both devotional and theatrical, capturing a moment of divine leisure and celebration.

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