A stylized Kadamba tree in full bloom is shown in the centre of the pichhwai. The scene symbolically represents the legend of Chiraharana lila when Krishna steals clothes of the bathing gopis and hide amongst the branches of a Kadamba tree. Krishna the Vrikshachari or tree–dweller is not seen here but surely present as gopis have gathered around the tree. They are holding aarti (lamps), vinjhana (fan), chauris (fly-whisks) and morchhals (peacock feather fans). The pichhwai delightfully depicts a variety of flora and fauna. All the trees are in full bloom with various birds on them.
Masulipatanam in Golconda was a famous centre of textile printing from the 17th to the 19th centuries, supplying the western market with huge curtain backdrops and other materials created by a combination of wood block-printing and hand painting. The present piece is an excellent example of Masulipatnam work in textile printing in tinsel.
Tinsel work comprises the use of an adhesive substance which is printed over the textile and subsequently dusted with colouring matter.
A stylized Kadamba tree in full bloom is shown in the centre of the pichhwai. The scene symbolically represents the legend of Chiraharana lila when Krishna steals clothes of the bathing gopis and hide amongst the branches of a Kadamba tree. Krishna the Vrikshachari or tree–dweller is not seen here but surely present as gopis have gathered around the tree. They are holding aarti (lamps), vinjhana (fan), chauris (fly-whisks) and morchhals (peacock feather fans). The pichhwai delightfully depicts a variety of flora and fauna. All the trees are in full bloom with various birds on them.
Masulipatanam in Golconda was a famous centre of textile printing from the 17th to the 19th centuries, supplying the western market with huge curtain backdrops and other materials created by a combination of wood block-printing and hand painting. The present piece is an excellent example of Masulipatnam work in textile printing in tinsel.
Tinsel work comprises the use of an adhesive substance which is printed over the textile and subsequently dusted with colouring matter.