Pattachitra
/pəˈtɑːtʃɪtrə/noun
A traditional Indian painting, especially from Odisha, made on prepared cloth and often depicting Hindu religious themes.
Did you know?Pattachitra artists traditionally prepare the cloth with layers of chalk and tamarind-seed gum, creating a smooth surface for highly detailed mythological paintings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷeytrom
“Bright or shining; a proposed ancient root connected with the color terms behind Sanskrit citra and English white”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
paṭṭa
“Cloth, fabric, or a strip of woven material”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
citra
“Bright, variegated, marvelous, or pictured”
Medieval Eastern India
Odia
paṭṭacitra
“A picture or painting made on cloth”
Modern English
English
pattachitra
“A traditional cloth-based painting tradition, particularly associated with Odisha”