Enjoy Eye-Popping Colors and Designs of Western India Through Wonderful Photographs
Book Review: Patterns of India: A Journey Through Colors, Textiles & the Vibrancy of Rajasthan by Christine Chitnis (Clarkson Potter, 2020)
I shall always be only an armchair traveler to India. I am too sensitive to the crowding and cacophony of its cities, and I know of no magic carpet that could whisk me to remote parks or pristine beaches.
One way to experience the complexities of this large and diverse country and its cherished monuments is to view a range of photographs featuring various aspects of the peoples and their cultures.
Christine Chitnis’s book delights from its pink cover throughout its many pages packed with colors and patterns.
The author’s unique vision treats the reader to an incredible assortment of images that celebrates the charms and achievements of generations of artistic crafters and artists.
Some Indian women wear long gathered skirts with matching overblouses in beautiful cotton prints in an astounding array of designs. Over these, they wear large, colorful, diaphanous silk scarves called ghoonghats, which they drape individualistically.
Each major city in Rajasthan is awash in one color: savor the pinks of Jaipur, the golden yellows of Jaisalmer, the ivories of Pushkar, and the blues of Jodhpur.
Chitnis labels almost every photo and introduces sections with a few paragraphs with just enough text to nudge the reader to pay close attention.
This lovely book delights from start to finish.
