Festival of cattle with gold leaf detailing Pichwai Painting

HISTORY

Pichwai paintings are beautiful examples of India’s traditional art and craftsmanship. The word ‘Pichwai’ comes from pich (back) and wai (textile wall hanging), as these paintings were once hung behind the idol of Srinathji in temples. Over time, handcrafted Pichwai art has evolved to include not just religious themes but also peaceful scenes of nature, flowers, and animals.

DESCRIPTION

At the heart of the composition stands Shrinathji, rendered in his iconic dark blue hue, his divine form richly adorned with jewels, floral garlands, and a resplendent golden crown. His raised left hand  the gesture of lifting the Govardhan Hill symbolizes divine protection and the eternal bond between the Lord and his devotees. Surrounding Shrinathji is a radiant congregation of white cows, each meticulously hand-painted with graceful curves, gold accents, and gentle expressions. Each cow is garlanded and decorated with saffron markings, representing purity, service, and abundance.

The cows’ tender gazes toward Shrinathji embody devotion in its purest form, evoking the image of creation centered around divine love.On either side, devotees dressed in traditional attire appear in reverence, grounding the celestial scene with human piety. They seem to guide and tend to the cows, symbolizing the eternal connection between mankind, nature, and divinity. The background unfolds into a lush grove of stylized trees and foliage, painted in layers of soft greens and golden hues, suggesting the verdant pastures of Vrindavan.

Above, the midnight sky is beautifully dotted with white stars and crowned with a glowing full moon, signifying the spiritual completeness of Krishna’s divine leela. At the base, a pond filled with blooming pink lotuses completes the sacred tableau the lotus, a recurring motif in Pichwai art, symbolizing purity and transcendence. The floral border in soft rose and yellow tones frames the painting like an offering ornate yet balanced, complementing the central composition without overpowering it.

MATERIALS: Locally sourced - all organic crushed stone dyes, Fine spun cotton.

PROCESS AND CRAFT

Our paintings are made on fine spun cotton fabric using all natural organic dyes made from crushed natural stones found in Hilly regions of northern India.

The crushed stones are mixed with natural gum and water to form paint-like consistency.

The artwork is further adorned with gold leaf, sometimes 24 karat gold leaf to give it life.

These Pichwai paintings are also made on canvas or paper.

NOTE: Vintage inspired Paintings often have intentional discolouration and creases, made to add value and retain its authentic vintage aura. These are authentic paintings made by Indian artisans.

CARE

The painting should not be regularly cleaned, but only when required. The front of the painting should be cleaned gently with a soft brush to remove the loose dust on the painted surface.

If you want to use the painting without a glass backing, keep the painting away from moisture and humidity.

If you want to have an artwork in a location where there is direct sunlight at times, do consider having it framed behind a UV protected glass.

Paintings made on paper or canvas need to be framed in glass.