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Cat stealing prawn Watercolour and graphite on paper, 45.0 x 28.4 cm, anonymous (India), 19th century DAG Museums |
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A scene tracing its roots to
the 19th-century Kalighat patachitra, a distinctive Bengali painting
tradition with even deeper historical origins. While Jamini Roy, a
pioneering modern Bengali artist, brought widespread recognition to
this imagery, the symbolic cat-and-fish theme existed long before
his interpretations. The theme is based on a Bengali proverb, with
the cat serving as a satirical representation of a false ascetic
who, despite renouncing the world, is unable to control its lust.
The fish, or in this case, the prawn, represents forbidden desires
or material temptations. The artist's technical shortcomings are
evident in the cat's unrealistic circular markings and the
anatomically incorrect positioning of the right foreleg, which
extends beyond its proper placement. |
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