Painting Stories: Lives and Legacies from an Indian Crafts Village

“A rare gem – the stories are accessible and appealing to a diverse readership, ranging from anthropologists and South Asia specialists to scholars of traditional art and everyday readers. Concerning the interests of folklorists, Painting Stories transcends mere ingenuity, as it delves deeply into the bedrock of our discipline, namely the exploration of material culture and the intricate customs, traditions, and beliefs that envelop it.”

Ruzhica Baruh, Memorial University, Journal of Folklore Research Reviews

"With distinctive verve, empathy, and humor, Painting Stories portrays the changing lives of traditional Indian painters – and their Danish ethnographer – across thirty years. Helle Bundgaard beautifully illustrates the power of stories to cultivate and celebrate caring connections, and to grant subtle ethnographic insights."

Kirin Narayan, Australian National University, author of Alive in the Writing

"Painting Stories is a beautifully written book, rich in its depictions of everyday life among painters and crafters in an Indian village, conveyed through an innovative approach to narrative ethnography. Bundgaard’s long-term engagement with the village informs her evocative portraits of scenes, events, and people for whom creativity is at the center of their lives."

Deborah Reed-Danahay, University at Buffalo

"Turning extensive ethnographic experience into poetic prose, Painting Stories is a powerful collection of stories. This is ethnography at its best: stories on topics such as religion, family, gender, ambition, and passion that concern us all. A skilled storyteller, Helle Bundgaard weaves local stories into her own narrative. This collection is bound to attract a wide readership."

Helena Wulff, Stockholm University