Andra's Classic Kalamkari Sarees

 

Only an art enthusiast can appreciate the beauty that is contained in a hand painted pen Kalamkari saree, as the renowned proverb "Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder" suggests. It is a completely perfect combination of grace and elegance expressed on fabric in the shape of profound artwork. The fact that all of these paintings were created using pens developed by the artists and natural dyes as painting colors makes it a very unique piece of clothing.

Kalamkari is derived from the Persian terms 'Kalam' (pen) and 'Kari' (craftsmanship) for the specialization of hand painting done on textures with a pen, which has since expanded to include hand block printing. There are two schools of workmanship that created Kalamkari at first in India. Kalamkari is reported to have thrived in Andhra Pradesh in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, in two areas - one near Tirupathi, the other near Vijayawada, somewhat isolated from one another yet with their own remarkable styles that grew independently. 

Srikalahasti style used the pen for drawing and filling in the colors, and its works of art were expressly centered on strong subjects and scenes from the sagas Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Machilipatnam style had an Islamic leaning, and contained works of art representing flora and fauna, with flower designs as the scenery on the texture. The two types of Kalamkari are well-known and have one feature: the delineations are fine, distinct, and beautifully drawn, with extensive use of natural colors that are quick, and there has been little deterioration in the ability and quality. 

Kalamkari looks great on a variety of texture fabrics, including silk, cotton, sico, craftsmanship silks like georgette, chiffon, crepe silk and many others. Colors are rapid and long-lasting when vegetable dyes are used. The subjects of trees, creepers, blooms, leaves, and winged creatures are well-known. Pictorial delineations from sagas, old stories, and everyday life are also taken up, making this wonderful traditional exhibition on sarees and varied textures more outstanding and original.