In a Kumartuli workshop strung with bare bulbs, an artisan puts the finishing touches on a towering idol of Maa Durga, surrounded by clay figures, bamboo frames, paint pots and tools of the trade. A celebration of the craftspeople behind Kolkata’s Durga Puja, under the words “Amar Shohor Kolkata.”
How it’s made
Every piece begins as a bare canvas that is treated and primed by hand, then built up with multiple layers of paint. Each coat is left to cure before the next goes on, creating a dense, even surface ready for engraving. The artwork is then etched into that surface with a high-definition laser, line by line, carefully removing the top layer of paint to reveal the light lines beneath. The laser settings are tuned for each design so that the finest details, from strands of hair to bridge girders, come out crisp without burning through the canvas.
Because the image is etched into the canvas instead of printed on top, it has a subtle depth and texture you can see and feel, and the weave of the canvas shows through every line. Small variations in the hand-painted layers mean no two canvases look exactly alike.
Details
- Original artwork designed exclusively by artist & owner of YldKat Studios, Ayantika Sen.
- Technique: High-definition laser engraving on a hand-prepared, multi-layer painted canvas
- Finish: Black canvas with light etched line art; the canvas texture shows through the design
- Size: 5″ × 5″ (square)
- Made one at a time in our studio in Hayward, California, so each piece has its own small variations.
- A beautiful gift for Durga Puja, Bijoya or Poila Baishakh, and a festive piece of décor for a puja corner, shelf or living room.
Care
Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth. Keep away from moisture, steam and direct sunlight, and avoid cleaners or scrubbing on the engraved surface.
