Boishnob Bedal – Woodcut

We present a beloved icon of the city that truly reflects Kolkata’s inimitable sense of humour and ability to laugh at its own ills. Our interpretation of the Boishnab Bedal or the Ascetic Cat, though more rotund and adorable than the previous icons, takes the same jab at moral duplicity.

Inspired by the hand-engraved woodcut illustrations of young Calcutta, this creation celebrates the rich visual narrative and cultural heritage depicted in these bold, vivid illustrations of Bengali life, folklore, and tradition. 

It’s a sly nod to the hypocrisy often found in religious circles. The ascetic who preaches abstinence by day but revels in earthly pleasures by night—the cat embodies that contradiction.

It invites all to rethink the structures that govern society. With each stroke of the artist’s brush, this hand painted icon asks us to look beyond the surface and confront the contradictions within our cultural and religious institutions.