Indian and Himalayan Art Narrative Scroll (Pata) showing scenes from the Ramayana (Legend of Lord Rama): section 3 Made in West Bengal, India, AsiaProbably made in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India, Asia Probably made in Bankura District, West Bengal, India, Asia Early 20th century Artist/maker unknown, India Opaque watercolor on cloth-backed paper Currently not on view 1964-169-4 Gift of Stella Kramrisch, 1964 |
LabelPatas are handscrolls that depict popular stories in a vertical sequence of framed segments, each of which represents one episode in the story. Professional painter-minstrels called patuas create these scrolls to illustrate their sung stories. As a song unfolds, the patua unrolls the appropriate segment and holds it up for his audience to see. Patuas move from village to village to entertain the rural community, performing in the courtyard of a temple, a school, a large home, or even in the shade of a tree. |
