Video: Bengal’s Print Legacy – “From Prayer Room to Parlours” Exhibition (Part 1)
The “From Prayer Room to Parlours” exhibition, organized by Mrs. Supriya Banerjee, is currently on display at the renowned Gallery 88 in Kolkata. Showcasing the rare collection of art collector Mr. Sanjeet Chowdhury, this exhibition reintroduces us to the forgotten artistic tradition of chromolithographs and oleographs—vibrant prints that once adorned prayer rooms with depictions of Hindu deities and characters from Hindu mythology in 19th-century Bengal. Over time, these artworks also found their way into the drawing rooms of both the middle class and the elite.
The discussion, led by prominent art historian Dr. Tapati Guha Thakurta and Mr. Sanjeet Chowdhury, explores the social influence and historical significance of these distinctive Bengali paintings and prints.
