Kalighat painting or Kalighat Pat originated in the 19th century in the vicinity of Kalighat Kali temple in Kolkata in India. This style of painting in bold and fluid lines originated when traditional chitrakars migrated to Kolkata in search of work. The demand for their elaborate cloth scrolls or patuas filled with mythological stories dwindled with rise in popularity of cheap lithographs. They adapted by selling cheap watercolors of gods and goddesses done on paper and sold them by the roadside.

This is now known as the Kalighat style of painting and many such works now adorn offices and living rooms. It is also considered the first Indian 'moderns', heralding the arrival of modernism in Indian art. After a while, the chitrakars started painting modern and non-religious themes - the famous 'Babu-Bibi' paintings - but the style remained more or less the same. Now, Kalighat style is mostly practised by a small number of artists from West Midnapore and Birbhum districts. Catterfly artist Samir Chitrakar is a Midnapore artist who is well versed in traditional mythological themes and tongue-in-cheek Babu-Bibi paintings.