During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Bengal witnessed a sudden flourish of oil paintings, unsigned, undated, and featuring Indian themes. These anonymous paintings emerged from three main centers – the French colony of Chandernagore (Chandannagar), the Dutch colony of Chinsurah, and from Chitpur and Garanhata in Calcutta. Initially referred to as Dutch Oils or French Oils, they are now collectively categorized as Early Bengal Oils. 

Painted by anonymous artists from the region, these works are an amalgamation of the Western technique of academic oil painting and the Indian tradition of painting mythological themes, predominantly Hindu gods and goddesses. They also incorporated elements such as backdrops and studio settings that were inspired from the contemporary art schools of Calcutta. These works are characterized by their strong and vibrant palette. The efflorescence of these paintings in the market suggests that they were patronized by the local urban elite who wanted to live ostentatiously. However, the genre declined once cheaper and mass-produced works, such as woodblock prints, lithographs and oleographs, became widely accessible.