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Man Seated in a European Chair Smoking a Margila Pipe, from a Kalighat album

Unknown

1880

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Patna School of Painting Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait Bengal Kalighat Kolkata

Dominant colour

Man Seated in a European Chair Smoking a Margila Pipe, from a Kalighat album is a 1880 unspecified by Unknown, a Patna School of Painting work, depicting Bengal, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1880 · Patna School of Painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a man sitting in a wooden chair, smoking a curved pipe. He’s wearing loose, striped pants, a sleeveless top, and a draped cloth over one shoulder. His feet are bare, and he holds the pipe with one hand while resting the other on his knee. The background is plain, keeping all focus on him. Notice the mix of styles—his clothes look traditional, but the chair is clearly European. This clash of styles is intentional, blending different worlds in one image. Look up kalighat to see how this style fits into Indian art traditions.