The Kalighat art form originated from the Kalighat Kali temple in Kolkata. While initially depicting only Hindu gods and goddesses, they quickly became more "Western" - depicting ordinary people participating in everyday life. This is in contrast to the older "Oriental" school of scenes from Hindu mythology, and later Islamic depictions. The Eastern School also changed its themes as time progressed. When Patuas, a community of craftsmen from West Bengal, settled in Kolkata, the demand for Kalighat paintings skyrocketed.
Kalighat paintings were usually done by a group of artists from the same family. So while some people grind materials to create handmade dyes, others outline shapes, fill them with color tones, or add finishing touches in the form of motifs and background designs. These paintings were usually created on clothes & pattas.
