A heritage tram glides down a curving street of colonial houses with wrought-iron balconies, gas-style lamp posts and a tangle of overhead wires, while a street vendor serves passers-by and birds circle overhead. Above it all, “Amar Shohor Kolkata” (“My City, Kolkata”) in flowing script. A nostalgic tribute to the only city in India where the trams still run.
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 meaningful gift for anyone who grew up in Kolkata, a housewarming present, or a nostalgic piece for a desk, shelf or gallery wall.
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.
