Chitra-pothi

An important but little-known art form of Orissa is illustration on palm-laf 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-pthi: 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 canvast 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 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, Berkely Palm-leaf Miniatures: The Art of Raghunath Prusit 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.
Contents :
Introduction The Tradition The Palm-Leaf Tradition Script, Langauge and Literature of Orissa Patron, Scribe, Artists Pushpika The Making of a Pothi The Manuscripts Gita Govinda Krishna and Rama Oriya Kavyas Chitra-Kavyas Ragamala Shilpa Shashtra Rati-Bandha Yantra, Mantra, Tantra The Art Illustrating the Text Palm-Leaf Art Endnotes Bibliography